Former Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief Ok. Chandrashekar Rao. File.
| Photograph Credit score: PTI
The once-promising trajectory of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief Ok. Chandrashekhar Rao or KCR’s nationwide political ambitions confronted a setback following the Telangana Meeting election defeat in December final 12 months.
Mr. Rao, who vigorously pursued nationwide politics after rebranding the get together from Telangana Rashtra Samithi to BRS throughout his chief ministerial tenure, tried to advertise the slogan of ‘Ab Ki Baar, Kisan Sarkar’ in a number of conferences throughout Maharashtra, aiming to ascertain the get together as a potent nationwide political drive.
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Nevertheless, the get together’s defeat in its house State left his plans in disarray and led to a strategic silence from Mr. Rao. This has left leaders in Maharashtra in a state of confusion and indecision. With the Lok Sabha election looming, leaders are grappling with the dilemma of whether or not to align with the BRS, kind a brand new get together, or merge with present political entities within the western State.
“He misplaced elections in Telangana, which we didn’t count on, and he additionally had an harm. Now, although he’s showing in public, he’s unresponsive to our repeated calls and messages,” stated the get together’s Maharashtra Kisan Morcha chief Manik Kadam.
Just lately, the leaders convened in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (beforehand Aurangabad) to deliberate on their subsequent steps. A communiqué was despatched to the BRS president, urging clear directions on the get together’s Maharashtra intentions, with a one-week deadline for a response. “The political way forward for our get together leaders, together with just a few ex-MLAs and an ex-MP, is at stake. He can’t go incommunicado and depart us hanging within the air,” Mr. Kadam stated.
Early splash
The get together has held half-a-dozen spectacular public conferences – the primary rally in Nanded on February 5, one other at Kandhar-Loha in Nanded, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Solapur, Pandharpur and Sangli. It got down to enchantment to the farming neighborhood with its slogan however couldn’t make a lot of an affect as may very well be seen from the get together’s efficiency within the elections to the posts of administrators of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Nanded district.
Mr. Rao not “discovering” a pacesetter to move the State unit was a sign that he was not overly , however individuals had been impressed by his popularity and welfare schemes applied within the neighbouring State, stated one other chief from the Marathwada area who’s prone to shift allegiance to the BJP now.
“There’s actually a political void in Maharashtra, and Mr. Rao wants to reply. When he selected to start out the Maharashtra unit, he organized for helicopters and automobiles to deliver us to Hyderabad for conferences. We didn’t provoke contact; he did. We’re keen to assist no matter determination he makes, however a call should be made,” Mr. Kadam said.
The get together leaders stated that Mr. Rao, in one of many conferences, assured them that he would contest from the Nanded Lok Sabha seat, a call that would have helped within the enlargement of the get together.
Present of energy
The State unit is planning to organise a present of energy in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in just a few days and take a call.
Even on his house turf, Mr. Rao is going through a backlash with a number of leaders planning to modify allegiance to the ruling Congress or the BJP.
Two sitting MPs from the get together have already joined the BJP, whereas one other shifted to the Congress lately.
In the meantime, in Andhra Pradesh, the get together has basically ceased its operations. Thota Chandrasekhar, a retired IAS officer who heads the BRS unit there, is contemplating becoming a member of Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Get together.
