Opinion: KCR's plunge into national politics: Will he make the cut?

Hyderabad: It will be Dasara cum Deepavali on October 5 as Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao takes a long-announced plunge into national politics!

With the muhurtham fixed on the auspicious Dasara day October 5 at 1.19 pm, all eyes are on the Chief Minister's announcement and his shift to national politics.

TRS has planned massive fireworks show across Telangana after the announcement by KCR, giving a touch of early Deepavali.

Highly placed sources told "Newsmeter" that the Chief Minister summoned all Ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, DCCB chairpersons, DCMS chairpersons, corporation chairpersons---entire TRS general body--- to be present sharply at Telangana Bhavan—the TRS headquarters at Banjara Hills at 1.19 pm for the launch of a national political party and foray into national politics with the sole motive of communal amity, farmers welfare and end the "demon" rule of BJP led NDA government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In fact, some TRS leaders are puzzled and scared at the repeated reminders from party headquarters to make sure their presence on October 5 so much so that some even think that KCR may dissolve the Assembly and go for early elections in view of the announcement of Munugode poll schedule and elections on November 3!

The defeat of TRS in Dubbak, Huzurabad, and losing 40-plus seats in GHMC has unnerved TRS leadership. With Munugode bye polls, pressure is on TRS to show its mettle once again. A win or loss will certainly impact the ruling TRS in the coming general elections.

"I haven't seen so many reminders to party leaders to attend the launch of the TRS national party. Known for surprises, some fear he may dissolve the assembly though he and other senior party leaders have refuted rumors in the past," a senior TRS leader told NewsMeter.

From Telangana Bhavan, KCR will return to Pragathi Bhavan and have lunch with all the party leaders whose approval he had sought for going national!

Interestingly, no State or national party has come out openly to join his national party, which is more renaming of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) into Bharat or Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi or any other nomenclature to be announced on the auspicious Dasara day.

Even before the launch, KCR came in for a sharp rebuke from rivals including Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy. "It's nothing but an attempt to divert the attention of people of Telangana from TRS government failures and misrule. There will be little that KCR can achieve other than his family members daydreaming about ruling the country, "he remarked.

He added," Many national parties have come and gone some without having a single seat in parliament. Rao has only one close ally in AIMIM which he wants to help gain strength in the country," he alleged.

KCR, who had been dilly-dallying on the launch of the national party finally held a series of meetings with leaders of various political parties, his close confidants, party leaders, journalists, and others and finally set October 5 as D Day.

Party leaders, though clueless about the shape of the new party, assert that it will be more renaming of the party from Telangana Rastra Samithi with a national tag…replace Telangana with Bharat!

"KCR has to prove his mettle in the general elections and if he wins sufficient seats nationally as per Election Commission norms, he will get the national party tag. And he has to sustain or else lose national identity," another senior party leader explained.

Chief Minister KCR had supported BJP all through since the formation of Telangana. He had supported all major bills including farm laws.

But when BJP set eyes on Telangana State in 2017 to capture power, the relationship soured. Defeat in Dubbak, Huzurabad, and loss in GHMC elections has shocked KCR and found BJP a major threat to his TRS. This led to his severe attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the BJP.

With KCR's national foray imminent, all eyes are on whether he would continue as Chief Minister or hand over the mantle to his son and IT, Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao, or anyone else.

"I don't think he would commit the mistake of UP strongman Mulayam Singh Yadav and hands over CM gaddi to son right now. Minus CM he will have no weight to throw around in the country or mobilize support for his party," a senior TRS leader told Newsmeter.

But KCR did hint that the time has come for the younger generation to take over a key role in State politics. But shrewd, KCR did not name who?

When there were rumors agog and a concerted planned chorus to make KTR CM, he snubbed party leaders that he would remain CM for the next 10 years in February last year!

"I am in the pink of health and will continue in the Chief Minister's post for the next 10 years. Don't make unwarranted comments on the issue or indulge in speculation," he said while addressing TRS State executive committee meeting at Telangana Bhavan.

With sufficient party funds at this disposal, a plane, and support from some smaller parties, KCR will zoom into national politics and meet leaders to join him in his crusade against Narendra Modi-led BJP at the Centre.

Former TSPSC member and once a close aide of KCR, C Vittal, who joined BJP, asserts, KCR will face the same fate as Telugu Desam supremo N Chandrababu Naidu who tried his hand at national politics, but failed. "He will face Chandrababu Naidu's fate. Also, he has distanced all those who supported him during the Telangana movement. Ignored sacrifices of youth," he says.

Another former Congress MLA Dr. S A Sampath Kumar finds TRS-BJP two sides of the coin!

Going by the KCR's penchant for taking risks like the Telangana movement in 2001, which ultimately led to the carving of a new State, his dream of making it to national politics—making a non-BJP and non-Congress—group too is a risky venture. Whether he will succeed or not, time will tell.

Whatever may be the outcome of KCR's foray into national politics, the country will certainly have political entertainment till the next general elections!

KCR Political Journey

--Launch of TRS and Telangana movement on April 27, 2001, to create separate Telangana State bifurcating Andhra Pradesh

--Mass movement across Telangana, over 1000 dead

--Formation of Telangana State on June 2, 2014, by Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and BJP

--June 2, 2014--- KCR-led TRS wins polls and takes oath as first Chief Minister of newly carved Telangana State

--KCR-led TRS wins 2018 assembly polls again, KCR becomes CM for the second time

--Oct 5, 2022---KCR to plunge into national politics, launch national party

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not represent the views of NewsMeter. We have not changed, added, or omitted anything to the text. NewsMeter is not responsible for the accuracy of the facts and the content of external links included in the article.