New Delhi: After the drubbing in 2023 assembly elections in Telangana, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief and ex chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) is planning to make hard hitting changes in his political organisation after March. Which will help party reconnect with the people at the grassroots and establish a fresh link with the electorate.
Recently in a meeting at the KCR’s farmhouse, the party boss KCR conveyed to the party rank and file that the efforts will be made to strengthen the party, which is currently going through internal turmoil and lack of clear agenda.
A senior BRS leader said, “In the upcoming march, the party is planning to conduct public meetings which are expected to have around 10 lakh attendance. After which there will be a total revamp of the party as there are issues within the party that need to be remedied.” He added, “The party committees will be reviewed and also training programmes will be held in order to build a strong trajectory for the party. Unfortunately, the former legislators of the party who lost in the recent elections are facing resistance from people in their respective constituencies so there will be efforts to sideline these leaders after the public meeting. The party will make efforts to groom a new generation of leaders who will help the party grow and establish their own connection at the grassroots.”
According to a source privy to the developments, a few independent surveys in the state have made assessments on the ground suggesting that the popularity of Talangana CM Anumula Revanth Reddy is decreasing. Therefore, the BRS is trying its best to capitalise on this sentiment and represent the dissatisfied people.
A political observer said, “The assembly elections are four years away, there are local elections coming in February and the BRS is not expecting to perform well in these. But they have started work and it is always unsure where the people will swing towards. Revanth is very active. And being active in politics helps draw better results. However, the aggresive politics of BRS makes one think whether they are trying to elevate the motivation of its cadre.”
Interestingly, the KCR has been heading his party from his Erravelli village farmhouse, located in Siddipet district of Telangana. Moreover, KCR’s son and working president of the party, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) is said to be taking instructions from his father to head all the political operations concerning the issues in the assembly as well as on ground.
Another BRS leader said to The Sunday Guardian, “KCR is not engaging much in political activities in the state. If Revanth Reddy speaks against him, he does not respond. He thinks that Revanth is rude and does not match his stature, therefore he does not find any need to respond back to him. He is not uttering a single word against him, and he even refuses to take the name of Revanth. Now his son is managing all the affairs and taking onto Revanth.”
The BRS had won 38 seats (out of 119) in the last assembly elections but saw its 10 legislators aligning with Congress after the elections lowering the collective morale of the party.
A Congress leader holding an official position in the party said, “Revanth is aggressive and he thinks offence is the best defence. We have done well on the governance front but have failed to prioritise which way the public exchequer should flow.
He could not use the public money judiciously. That is why, there is some sort of dissatisfaction.”