KCR, the Chief Minister of Telangana and the leader of the BRS Party, harbors ambitions of becoming the national leader (‘Desh Ka Neta’). However, he is currently facing a formidable challenge in the Telangana assembly elections. Despite being a stalwart in the state and aiming for a hat-trick victory for the BRS Party, KCR is encountering difficulties. While there is a prevailing belief that there is no leader equivalent to him in Telangana, the anti-incumbency factor is proving to be a significant hurdle in the ongoing elections. This election holds immense importance for KCR, especially since he transformed the TRS into the BRS, intending to expand its influence to other states and position himself as a national leader. Let’s delve into the journey of TRS-BRS and explore the party’s future amidst the current assembly elections.
If BRS gets a hat-trick…!
If the BRS party manages to secure a hat-trick victory in the current assembly elections, it would be a justification and great support from the Telangana public for their national aspirations. As no South Indian chief minister has secured a third consecutive term, Telangana’s victory would project him not only as a stalwart of Telangana but also as the tallest leader from South India.
If he achieves the hat-trick as expected, his next step is in Maharashtra. To enter Maharashtra politics, he has been preparing the ground for the past year. BRS has held public meetings, conducted membership drives, organized classes for leadership, and set up offices in Nagpur and Aurangabad. Maharashtra being the neighboring state of Telangana and the political uncertainty in Maha politics make KCR eye that state. KCR’s incredible communication skills and command over Telugu, Hindi, English, and Urdu are advantages for him to engage in national politics.
Amidst Vedic chants, #Telangana CM #KCR, also #BRS Chief, inaugurates party office in Delhi. KCR’s focus is now to establish #BRS as a national party, become ‘desh ka neta.’ Also seen is #SamajwadiParty’s Akhilesh Yadav who cut the ribbon along with #KCR. pic.twitter.com/th3gvWwpls
— Rishika Sadam (@RishikaSadam) December 14, 2022
KCR hopes that Telangana is with him in directing towards national politics. In 2018, he initiated efforts to float a third front at the center. After winning a second consecutive term in Telangana elections, KCR met Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik to discuss the third front. While Mamata did not share a single word with the media, KCR expressed optimism over the third front during the media address after their meeting. Last year, he went to Bihar and had discussions with CM Nitish Kumar, but Nitish insulted the KCR. During their joint media address, he repeatedly stood up to leave, despite KCR’s attempts to persuade him to remain seated, which shows Nitish’s attitude towards KCR. He also met Shiv Sena’s leader Uddhav Thackrey last year when he was in the CM post, discussing the third front.
As KCR did not receive the expected response for his attempts to float a third front opposing Congress and BJP, he decided to convert his party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), into Bharath Rashtra Samithi (BRS). KCR inaugurated the BRS national party office in Delhi this year. Interestingly, BRS won 57 gram panchayats in local body elections in Maharashtra held in November this year. KCR plans to contest all 48 Lok Sabha seats and 288 assembly seats in the upcoming elections in Maharashtra.
However, when KCR changed his party’s name from TRS to BRS for national politics, hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana, but now BRS has facing a tough phase through elections. If BRS wins in Telangana, the path is clear for KCR’s national politics. However, if it loses, his road might be blocked from entering the national political arena. Even if BRS wins with the least majority of seats, critics in Maharashtra and similar states where KCR wants to expand his party may target him, highlighting BRS party’s low performance. Instead of focusing on BRS party’s improvement in Telangana, KCR might face criticism from opponents in other states for expanding BRS party.
Also Read: Telangana Elections 2023: Roundup From Voter Turnout To Exit Polls
If the BRS Party loses elections
If the BRS Party loses in the upcoming assembly elections, it will deal a significant blow to KCR’s national political aspirations. KCR, who possesses a larger-than-life image and emotional connection with the people of Telangana—an image unmatched by any other leader—will find himself in an unexpected situation should the party fail to secure victory. In the event of a loss, KCR would need to focus on strengthening the party and ensuring its resurgence for the next elections in 2028.
BRS cadre members allege a joint conspiracy by the Congress and BJP against KCR, aimed at limiting his influence in Telangana and preventing him from emerging as a formidable challenger in future national politics. The Congress party, in its Telangana elections manifesto, has stated that if they come into power, a judicial probe will be initiated into the Kaleshwaram corruption issue. While these allegations against KCR are currently mere accusations, they may pose legal challenges in the future.
Sir we are waiting for BRS HEAD kcr garu CM FOR THE 3 rd time waiting ……… when I saw a Telugu leader kcr garu in Maharashtra I feel proud and tears in my eyes y because I saw a telugu wala a leader in central politics @KTRBRS from common man in Andhra Pradesh pic.twitter.com/FcR0ZqFDwx
— lakshmi purna chandu VUSSE (@ChanduVUSSE) November 30, 2023
Speculation abounds that if the BRS Party comes into power, KCR may not continue in the CM chair for an extended period. To pursue national politics, he might give KTR the opportunity to become the CM. However, if BRS loses, it will present a significant challenge for KTR to prove himself as a strong opposition leader and sustain the party’s leadership for the next five years. Discussions about the CM post automatically bring Harish Rao’s name into the picture, but he consistently expresses his commitment to abide by KCR’s decisions and work for the party’s benefit. In the event of a BRS loss, Harish Rao’s role within the party would become even more crucial than his present responsibilities.
The BRS, in such a scenario, should refocus on its role as TRS, the earlier version of BRS, rather than pursuing national political aspirations.
For the BRS Party’s national aspirations, KCR and other leaders have extensively promoted the ‘Telangana Model,’ citing various welfare and development schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Kalyana Laxmi, Housing, Dalit Bandhu, Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya, Kanti Velugu, the Kaleshwaram project, roads, and infrastructure. If BRS is defeated by the Congress in these elections, KCR may face criticism, questioning why Telangana, supposedly developed under his leadership, did not support him. Despite not much opposition on the ground, concerns linger about KCR’s perceived arrogance, his limited public appearances, his lack of accessibility even to MLAs and ministers, and his seeming disregard for issues affecting the unemployed. Coupled with voter fatigue, these factors may drive voters to choose another party without a strong rationale, and if BRS loses, these elements are likely to be crucial contributing factors.
