‘Kaaru, Saaru, Padahaaru’ was the slogan of Bharath Rashtra Samithi in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, but the slogan did not resonate with the election results. BRS ended up with 9 seats out of 17 Lok Sabha seats, and their number decreased from 11 to 9 compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Currently, BRS is not in power, and KCR is recovering from surgery. The questions running in everyone’s mind now are whether KCR will contest for Lok Sabha or remain as MLA, and whether BRS can resurge in the Lok Sabha elections.
BRS Lok Sabha Preparatory Meetings
The BRS party is currently conducting preparatory meetings for each Lok Sabha constituency, which commenced on January 3rd with Adilabad, followed by Karimnagar, Chevella, Peddapally, Nizamabad, Zaheerabad, Khammam, Warangal, Mahbubabad, Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda, Nagar Kurnool, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Malkajgiri, and Secunderabad, continuing until January 21st.
As of now, BRS internal sources have confirmed candidates for the Karimnagar, Chevella, Khammam, and Nizamabad constituencies only. Boinapally Vinod Kumar, the former MP from Karimnagar, Ranjith Reddy from Chevella, Nama Nageswara Rao from Khammam, and Kalvakuntla Kavitha from Nizamabad are almost confirmed as candidates. The remaining candidates for other seats will be decided by BRS in the upcoming days, following further preparatory meetings.
KCR to be active from February
Since the announcement of the assembly election results on December 3rd, KCR has not made any public appearances. After shifting from Pragathi Bhavan to his farmhouse, he suffered a fall, leading to a hip replacement surgery at Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad. Speculations about his future plans have been rampant ever since. Some analysts believe he may not attend assembly sessions and instead choose to contest in the Lok Sabha, heading to Parliament.
తెలంగాణ భవన్ లో ప్రారంభమైన బీఆర్ఎస్ పార్టీ వరంగల్ లోక్సభ నియోజకవర్గ సన్నాహక సమావేశం.
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) January 10, 2024
ఈ సమావేశంలో బీఆర్ఎస్ వర్కింగ్ ప్రెసిడెంట్ కేటీఆర్, మాజీ మంత్రులు ఎర్రబెల్లి దయాకర్ రావు, సత్యవతి రాథోడ్, మాజీ స్పీకర్ పోచారం శ్రీనివాస్ రెడ్డి, ఎంపీ పసునూరి దయాకర్, వరంగల్ పార్లమెంట్… pic.twitter.com/n1hLvOHf2x
Although KCR has been elected as the leader of the opposition by BRSLP, he has not attended recent assembly meetings due to his surgery. BRS MLA Harish Rao recently stated that KCR is expected to be active in party programs from February, visiting various districts and interacting with party cadre at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad.
Speculations arise over the fielding of KTR for Lok Sabha?
If everything had gone as well as BRS expected, KCR might be busy now campaigning in Maharashtra, not just for the Telangana Lok Sabha elections. However, with reversed expectations, there is now widespread curiosity about KCR’s next steps. The prevailing public notion is that he might contest from the Medak Lok Sabha constituency, Gajwel, KCR’s current representing seat, is also under this Lok Sabha.
I definitely want to see him as Parliament member this 5 years, I don't want him to waste time sitting in assembly where ruling govt will definitely not give him a chance, to counter the ruling already we have KCR and THR.
— KCR for LokSabha (@navaneethreddym) January 7, 2024
KTR will get the great exposure in center.@KTRBRS https://t.co/3cR7f0fB3b
Contrary to these expectations, recent speculations suggest that KCR will continue as the leader of the opposition in the state; he might field his son and party working president in the Lok Sabha elections. According to these speculations, KCR believes that fielding KTR in the Lok Sabha elections would boost the party’s prospects. If BRS fails to secure more seats in the Lok Sabha, it could potentially damage the party’s future. Therefore, KCR is considering putting forward KTR as the candidate for the Lok Sabha elections. However, KTR, projected as the next Chief Minister after KCR within BRS, might choose not to contest the Lok Sabha, as this 5-year period is crucial for him to prove himself in the opposition.
If BRS wins a third consecutive term in the elections, KTR could potentially become the Chief Minister. Nevertheless, opposition parties could criticize him, claiming that he attained that stature solely because he is KCR’s son, even though KTR has played a key role in the Telangana statehood movement. Now, being in the opposition, it’s a good chance for him to be a public voice in the assembly. This could help him overcome the criticism of inherited politics.
Also Read: Telangana Elections 2023: Why did Telangana reject KCR’s BRS?
Will KCR contest Lok Sabha or not?
As of now, KCR is taking rest at his residence, Nandi Hills, in Hyderabad. Nobody knows what is actually running through his mind, and whether he will contest in the Lok Sabha elections remains uncertain. Previously, KCR served as the MP from Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar. In 2014, he won the Medak Lok Sabha seat along with the Gajwel assembly seat but subsequently resigned from the Medak MP seat. With the BRS having a strong hold in the Medak district, there are possibilities of KCR contesting from the Medak Lok Sabha seat. The preparatory meeting for the Medak Lok Sabha will be conducted by BRS on January 19th, where clarity on KCR’s potential candidacy may be provided.
The #Leader is back and ready to make waves.#KCR #LeadershipRevived. pic.twitter.com/9YLC7V7qbn
— Santosh Kumar J (@SantoshKumarBRS) January 7, 2024
Given KCR’s defeat in the Kamareddy assembly seat, there is speculation that he might choose not to contest the Lok Sabha elections, which are in the near future. The BRS is expected to address this matter during the Medak Lok Sabha preparatory meeting on January 19th. Currently, there have been no leaks or indications from the party regarding KCR’s future plans. As of January 21st, the BRS party will conclude their preparatory meetings, shifting their focus to campaigning. By then, clarity might emerge regarding KCR’s candidature in the Lok Sabha and other potential candidates.
