KCR, The Peddanna In Present Indian Politics?

Telangana Rashtra Samithi was born for the separate statehood. After achieving its goal, TRS won two elections and believing that its government has made immense progress in the last eight years, CM KCR wants to replicate the same formula on national level. Accordingly TRS was converted into Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

Initially KCR planned an alternative front (Third Front) excluding BJP and Congress on national level. Before the 2019 elections, KCR met Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, AP CM YS Jagan to gather support for a Third Front. But with BJP getting absolute majority, KCR’s plans turned upside down. Lately KCR realised that an alternative front doesn’t really work out and so floated BRS.

In that line BRS first ever public gathering was held in Khammam on Wednesday. Chief Ministers of three states and former CM of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav were invited. From this very stage, KCR and three CMs along with Akhilesh tried to display their unity and send a message to the BJP.

All the leaders said that PM Modi will be sent home in the 2024 elections. In his speech, KCR said that BRS’ agenda is nationalisation while BJP’s propaganda is privatisation. Raking up the privatisation of LIC and Vizag steel plant, KCR announced that if BRS is voted to power in 2024, these two entities will be brought back to the public sector.

On issues like drinking water, water for agriculture, hunger index and uplifting the lives of Dalits, KCR added that even after 75 years of Independence, states are fighting for water while the Centre is playing a spectator role.

“There are water wars between the states. The tribunals appointed by the government of India are pointless and are finding no solution. Many states still do not have access to drinking water which is a clear case of a strong policy. On the other hand the rain water is getting wasted reaching the ocean thereby farmers are in severe distress. Still the country is reporting hunger deaths and in the international charts our country’s rank has dropped drastically. India is capable of becoming a hub for food processing and can be a model for the world. But the current BJP government is least bothered about all these aspects and is dismantling opposition governments and troubling them with Governors’ action,” said KCR.

These are valid arguments from KCR but the big question is can he repeat NT Rama Rao and Chandrababu Naidu? From Telugu land, NTR shook Delhi politics while Chandrababu played a huge role as Convenor of NDA in the late 1990s. BRS leaders believe that KCR has all the ability to rule Delhi.

“Telangana’s growth is unprecedented. The welfare schemes for farmers, dalits and other communities are one of its kind. With the Kaleshwaram project and Mission Kakatiya, water became abundant in once drought hit region and as a result, the cultivation has improved. Despite the Centre’s negligence, we have constructed many projects and established many educational institutions. All these factors will be taken to the public and BRS will definitely win the confidence of people and give us the ability to form a government in the national capital. This is very much possible from Telangana,” say BRS leaders.

Yet the opposition observes some crucial loopholes. Former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy who was with KCR on announcing BRS, did not make it to the Khammam gathering. There are reports that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Odisha CM Naveen and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee are not interested in joining hands with KCR.

All in all, KCR has ambitious plans with BRS and he needs a miracle to achieve the same.