Rama Krishna Sangem
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) is keen on transforming TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) into BRS (Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi). The process will commence on the auspicious Dasara festival on October 5, Wednesday. It may take a couple of months by the time TRS officially becomes BRS, as there is a long procedure involved in it. Car will continue to be its election symbol.
Two leaders – TRS Chief Whip D Vinay Bhaskar and Whip Rega Kantha Rao – told the media on October 2, Sunday evening that a meeting of TRS MLAs and state committee members – around 283, will meet at Pragathi Bhavan at 10 am on Dasara and pass a unanimous resolution authorising KCR to change the name of TRS to BRS. This is the first step of the new party. The new party may be announced at 1.19 pm on the day.
This will be followed by a marathon process. KCR is planning to address a public meeting in Delhi on December 9, to make his foray into national politics. The meeting will be attended by leaders of many other like minded parties including the Left parties. Some of those who met him in Hyderabad in the last 6-7 months are expected to announce their joining BRS. Besides there will be legal process and formalities needed by the Election Commission of India (EC).
According to Representation of People’s Act 1951 Section 29 A, which EC follows, the process of registration of a new political party is laid out. Our Constitution under Article 324 empowers the EC to take all decisions with regarding not just conduct of elections, but also to run the process of elections, that is taking care of issues related to political parties.
Already a legal team led by some senior counsels is working on the subject. One of them told Excel India that: “This is not a registration of a new party, but a simple process of changing the name. Our election symbol will be Car and flag colour will be Pink, with some minor changes in it. This is just like informing EC about our internal changes”. This is not just a change, but major transformation.
But, there will be other procedural formalities. First, EC should recognize this change of TRS as BRS. Then, the Speaker of the Assembly should declare the change and make necessary amendments in the records. Then, this will become a BRS government, instead of a TRS one now. All its MPs and MLAs will become BRS legislators. The same will also be noted by the presiding officers of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. This entire process may take 3-4 months.
KCR BRS President
CM KCR will be elected as the national president of BRS, once this process is completed. He will appoint presidents or coordinators of all the state units in India. Minister KTR who is now TRS working president may become BRS Telangana president. Some senior leaders like Shankar SIngh Waghela who met KCR recently may merge their outfits into new BRS, sources said.
TRS leaders who till now were confused over the entire process are clear by October 2. “We are convinced that our leader KCR will succeed in whatever he does. We have nothing to lose, but only to gain a lot,” said Vinay Bhaskar, after emerging from a meeting at Pragathi Bhavan. The Brand T (Telangana) is no more an issue as KCR is the bigger Brand of T,” said Kantha Rao.
More details like whether KCR will contest upcoming Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat assembly elections are not clear because it is too early to talk about. But, one thing is clear – KCR is taking another big risk of his life – just as he took one in 2001 April, while launching TRS after quitting TDP and Assembly Deputy Speaker post. If he did it at the age of 47, now he is taking a major political leap at 68, which not many leaders dare do it.
