Reported By: Rohini Swamy
Last Updated: November 08, 2023, 13:40 IST
BRS leader and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, popularly referred to as KCR, led a convoy of 600 cars to launch his entry into Maharashtra a few months ago. (PTI)
KCR’s foray into Maharashtra had raised eyebrows in political circles. However, the positive results across gram panchayats in Nagpur, Solapur, Jalgaon and Wardha districts have proved him right
The outreach programme of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, the ruling party in Telangana, has succeeded to some extent in neighbouring Maharashtra as the party has won over 50 gram panchayat seats in the local body elections. The party had contested about 300 seats in the polls that were held on Sunday and the results have surprised pollsters.
BRS leader and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, popularly referred to as KCR, led a convoy of 600 cars to launch his entry into Maharashtra a few months ago. His foray into the neighbouring state had raised many eyebrows in political circles as being over-ambitious. However, the positive results spread across gram panchayats in Nagpur, Solapur, Jalgaon and Wardha districts have proved him right.
The results may boost the morale of the BRS party workers but the question that arises is whether their enthusiasm will bring the party back to power in Telangana for a third consecutive term. More so when it is fighting anti-incumbency amid allegations of failing to deliver jobs to the unemployed.
Dr Dasoju Sravan, spokesperson for the BRS, told News18 that the Maharashtra results have proved that the ‘Telangana model of governance’ is not just popular in the home state but also in Maharashtra.
“It certainly helps build momentum in Telangana too. When neighbouring states are inviting and welcoming of KCR’s leadership, it is a sort of reinforcement of his capabilities, commitment, and conviction to the people, and I am sure the people of Telangana also see it. It will certainly be one of the factors for KCR to come back to power as a third-time chief minister,” said Dr Sravan.
However, BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao told News18: “All politics is local. So, if you win in one state, that doesn’t mean you can win in the other. I am not even talking about a seat in municipal elections; I am also talking about the Karnataka elections where the Congress won big time. That does not mean the Congress will win Telangana big time. They can get inspiration from it, get excited about the win, but the situations on the ground are quite different.”
Political analyst Gali Nagaraju differs with both opinions. “Winning a few seats in Maharashtra’s local body elections is very different from winning a state election. KCR is seeking a mandate based on his performance in the last 10 years. There is no link between how the BRS performed in the Maharashtra municipal elections and Telangana assembly elections.
“This is an election between performance and underperformance. One between delivery and non-delivery. There is relevance for the Telangana sentiment this time as he (KCR) has stirred it up way too many times,” the analyst said, adding that despite milking the T-sentiment several times over, KCR will not hesitate from tapping into the sentiment whenever he needs to insulate himself from the opposition.
He may also bank on it now by raising the bogey of Chandrababu Naidu and YS Sharmila who have Andhra roots.
