TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao is known for his sharp jabs on opposition leaders and tall promises, but it goes beyond anyone’s guess to figure out when he would walk the talk. The TRS supremo enjoys an unchallenged position in the State, mostly because of a weak, tottering opposition which does not have a leader who could match his popularity and oratory skills. His unpredictable and unconventional manoeuvres to put down the opponents and consolidate his own image baffles the most seasoned of political analysts.
In fact, on several occasions, Congress, the main opposition, and BJP had many chances to build up narratives and strike at the pink brigade, but every time they found the tide turn against them because of KCR’s street smart tactics and shrewdness. Always speaking in local Telangana slang, KCR combines fiery public speaking with subtle humour to attract and convince voters. Perhaps, he is the only leader after NTR who can sway the entire electorate with convincing speeches.
What is irking political parties?
The TRS leader has made a slew of promises to get into power during his electioneering and many like double bedroom houses, unemployment allowances, three acres of land to SCs, jobs creation for unemployed youth remain unfulfilled. Opposition parties take up statewide campaigns against KCR and his family once in a while, but all of it gets washed away before the elections when KCR invokes Telangana pride and sentiment which still rules the roost. “He has the knack and skill to make people believe his white lies as truth and facts. Only those realize who are not swayed by the spell of his oratory,” said a BJP leader.
Like Prime Minister Narendra Modi returning to power with a more decisive majority, KCR had also pulled off a grand reentry into power winning 88 seats in the 119-member state assembly.
An unpredictable politician who specializes in diversionary tactics
The unpredictability element in KCR and his diversionary tactics had claimed many victims. The movement of separate Telangana was at its peak before 2012. The then Union Home Minister Chidambaram’s statement that the Centre is considering creation of a separate state of Telangana created a ruckus among different political parties. With the end plan in mind, the wily TRS chief promised to merge his party with Congress if the Centre gives a separate Telangana state. That promise was not kept much like many of his other promises. Sonia experienced the worst humiliation at the hands of a regional party with just two MPs in Lok Sabha, while KCR landed on the Chief Minister’s chair.
In 2009, the TRS joined the Grand Alliance comprising of the Telugu Desam Party, the Communist Party of India – Marxist and the Communist Party of India contest in the elections. It is said that the pink party chief was busy holding talks with the BJP to forge an alliance even before the results were out. In 2019, KCR announced the idea of a federal front to take on the BJP. He had gone and met late DMK chief Karunanidhi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Benerjee and held hectic parleys with several other opposition leaders. All the plans were shelved after Modi wave hit the country like a Tsunami.
Party Name Naya Bharat?
Speculations were rife that TRS chief was seriously contemplating to launch a new political outfit called ‘Naya Bharat’ in a bid to take on BJP at the national level. KCR has dismissed the reports as baseless, but many insiders say KCR harbours national ambition and every step he takes is towards playing a key role in national politics. Sources say KCR denied the reports and fleetingly mentioned that there are three more years to go before such issues come to the fore. Political pundits are calling this news a diversion tactic to turn away people’s gaze from government’s failures in managing COVID. Some party insiders say this is a signal to the Centre on what is in store for the future in the aftermath of its decision to cut down the reimbursement in GST shares to the States.
