Speculation Rife Over KCR Meeting Modi-Shah

Political speculation is rife over Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amith Shah. Though the TRS and BJP dismissed the meet as routine interaction between central and state governments, the political circles are agog with speculation over KCR’s possible political moves. Such a reading is inevitable given the hostility between two parties in the run-up to GHMC polls. KCR holding one on one meeting with top BJP leaders sowed the seeds of speculation.

During the GHMC polls campaign, KCR said he would launch a no holds barred battle on Modi government policies. He has also announced that there would be an anti-BJP opposition meet in Hyderabad in the second week of December. Surprisingly, KCR met Modi and Shah in the second week itself. During his Delhi tour, KCR has not shown keenness to hold hectic political parlays with non-BJP parties. When several parties across the political spectrum are rallying in support of farmers protesting in Delhi, KCR has not used the occasion to launch a proposed anti-Modi battle. However, the TRS joined the farmers sponsored Bharat bandh. Why it was not followed up with a direct address to the farmers squatting on the highways? 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is joining the hunger strike in support of farmers. KCR would have hogged the national limelight if he had chosen to sit on a hunger strike with farmers. This would have been a perfect political setting for any anti-Modi crusade he wishes to launch. KCR choosing not to do so is undoubtedly conspicuous.

KCR’s anti-Modi pitch was always episodal. During the elections to the state assembly in 2018 and Lok Sabha in 2019, KCR made a similar battle cry. But, he has not demonstrated any such political resolve later. KCR selectively met Congress allies even during his federal front sojourn, leading to the criticism that he was acting at Modi’s behest. Given this experience, political circles are skeptical of KCR’s actions. His Delhi tour has further strengthened such skepticism.

Though BJP considers TRS as its adversary in state politics, the party’s national leadership sees in KCR a possible ally in 2024 in case the saffron party falls short of the majority. The congress mukth Bharat is a win-win slogan for both TRS and BJP. Thus, the saffron and the pink parties may like to strike but not wound each other. The subsequent political developments would only testify the validity of this thesis. Politics are always fluid. Anything can happen anytime.  

By Prof K Nageshwar

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