Hyderabad: Telangana’s former chief minister Ok. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), in his second public look since he misplaced energy to the Congress in December, likened Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders defecting to the Congress forward of the final election to “mongrels and foxes”.
Whereas campaigning in drought-prone areas within the Suryapet-Nalgonda-Jangaon districts east of Hyderabad Sunday, the BRS chief mentioned, “You (Congress/CM Revanth Reddy) can rejoice by hauling in one or two, some mongrels and foxes. Those are cheap tactics, cheap political stunts. Compared to the common man’s pains, problems, and issues like parched crops, it is not a big issue (for me).”
A number of sitting MPs, two MLAs, one MLC, and scores of former legislators, municipal or panchayat representatives, district-level and different second-rung leaders have abandoned KCR’s BRS over the previous few weeks, whereas extra have made a beeline. Most have joined the ruling Congress, whereas a number of went to the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP).
Aided with a stick with help his steps in parched fields, KCR interacted with farmers affected by drought. Later, he accused the “callous Congress government of leaving the ‘ryots’ (farmers) to their fate as their crops wilt due to the water shortage conditions”.
The ex-CM additionally mentioned that since Revanth Reddy took over from him, “200 Telangana farmers lost their lives, either committing suicides or electrocuted due to erratic power supply”.
KCR plans to go to extra districts, with one such tour slated later this week in central Telangana. Telangana will ballot on 13 Could.
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KCR’s two confidants soar the ship
Just some days after stepping down from the CM chair, KCR had slipped in his toilet, and underwent hip substitute surgical procedure later in December.
KCR’s outing whereas nonetheless recuperating and taking over the farmers’ trigger forward of the Lok Sabha polls, comes when, political analysts identified, BRS prospects just like the crops KCR examined are quick drying up within the state he dominated for 2 consecutive phrases.
In a jolt to KCR, the most recent defectors are two seniors and shut confidants — BRS secretary basic and veteran politician Ok. Keshava Rao (KK), and former deputy CM and Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari.
As KCR was stepping out of his home for the farm tour, which included Jangaon, the district encompassing Station Ghanpur, Kadiyam abandoned the occasion Sunday morning.
Kadiyam joined the Congress together with his daughter and BRS’s Warangal nominee Kavya within the presence of CM Revanth Reddy and AICC Telangana in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi. Congress introduced Kavya because the Congress candidate from Warangal by Monday night.
Keshava Rao, the 85-year-old sitting Rajya Sabha MP and KCR’s advisor, particularly on nationwide issues and politics, met Revanth Reddy Friday. He later went public together with his intention to rejoin the Congress.
A day later, KK’s daughter and Hyderabad mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi joined the Congress within the presence of Revanth and Dasmunshi.
“KCR was unhappy and asked me to reconsider my decision. But I stated my resolve to rejoin the Congress party, which I had been associated with for over five decades before,” Keshava Rao advised ThePrint.
“I am not bothered about formal joining. I am a Congress-man now,” mentioned KK, who had previously been a Congress minister, APCC chief, and Congress in-charge of West Bengal, Assam, and different states.
In Could 2013, KK had give up the Congress to hitch the BRS, then Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Whereas some leaders are leaving the BRS silently or thanking KCR for alternatives and positions during the last 10 years, some have talked about disillusionment with the occasion as purpose for his or her exit.
In a letter to KCR final week, Kavya, whereas withdrawing her BRS candidature, listed corruption, land-grabbing and phone-tapping allegations, and the alleged involvement of the BRS management within the Delhi liquor rip-off as having tarnished the occasion picture.
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‘KCR trying to keep his party afloat’
Upping his recreation, Revanth final month mentioned the Telangana Congress “gates are now wide open for leaders of other parties, including MLAs”.
On Sunday, KCR asserted that with 39 MLAs, the BRS is the primary opposition occasion. “We are not routed in the state; we will fight for people’s causes,” he mentioned, demanding the Revanth authorities supply Rs 25,000 per acre compensation to affected farmers.
Nonetheless, with two defections and the demise of MLA Lasya Nanditha in a automotive crash, the BRS power within the meeting is now 36.
A number of BRS legislators have both met Revanth or reportedly been in contact with Congress leaders with obvious plans to hitch the occasion eventually.
With three opinion polls final month predicting the BRS successful solely two of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, analysts mentioned KCR now has the fast activity of saving the BRS vote financial institution from disastrous ranges of depletion.
“The BRS chief who did not step out of the palatial Pragathi Bhavan during the devastating Hyderabad floods or major mishaps resulting in big loss of lives in his tenure and who, as an opposition leader, has not attended the assembly till now, is touring districts, meeting the public. KCR’s effort is apparently to show his relevance and to keep his party afloat in the face of a mass exodus,” Hyderabad-based political commentator Vasireddy Srinivas advised ThePrint.
In his first public look after shedding energy, at a rally in Nalgonda district on 13 February, KCR had accused the Revanth Reddy authorities of handing over the administration of irrigation initiatives to the Centre.
Telangana Irrigation and Civil Provides Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy refuted KCR’s fees of inept dealing with of irrigation and energy sectors, claiming “there is no power shortage or power cuts in the whole of Telangana as being falsely alleged by KCR.”
The minister additionally mentioned the BRS has disintegrated and is on the verge of extinction. “The BRS attempted to become a national party, but is now facing complete annihilation after a single electoral defeat. The BRS would fail to secure a single seat in the Lok Sabha election, leaving only KCR and his family members within the party,” he advised reporters Monday.
Uttam Kumar Reddy additionally alleged that KCR “who as chief minister enjoyed a lavish lifestyle either in the palatial Pragati Bhavan or his farmhouse” is now visiting farms, assembly farmers, and making false accusations in regards to the Congress authorities for votes.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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