Political turmoil ahead in Telangana

K Chandrashekar Rao

The political situation in Telangana is currently turbulent. Many key members are leaving the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which is expected to be challenged by the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This has caused a significant change in the state's political landscape, leaving the BRS struggling to cope with the consequences.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress have taken advantage of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) disarray, with many of their candidates boasting BRS pedigrees. Notably, nine out of the 15 BJP candidates in Telangana hail from the BRS ranks, which has angered local party loyalists. Among these candidates are G Nagesh, a former TRS MP from Adilabad in 2014; BB Patil, the sitting TRS MP from Zaheerabad; P Bharat, the son of Nagarkurnool TRS MP P Ramulu, Ajmeera Seetharam Naik, former TRS MP, and Saidi Reddy, former TRS MLA. Gomasa Srinivas, who was given the ticket from Peddapalli, was previously associated with the Congress and the TRS.

The Congress party has carefully chosen candidates with solid credentials for the upcoming elections, including several former members of the BRS party. With a remarkable performance in the previous Assembly elections, the Congress party is determined to establish dominance in the state's political landscape. Meanwhile, the BRS party faces additional challenges after the departure of key leaders like B. Venkatesh Nethakani, B.B. Patil, and G. Ranjit Reddy, who have all switched to the Congress party. Notable figures from a BRS background who are running for Lok Sabha seats under the Congress banner include P Sekhar Reddy, Danam Nagendra, Sunitha Mahendra Reddy, Gadam Vamsi, and Neelam Madhu. Ranjith Reddy represents Chevella and P Dayakar, currently holding an incumbent MP seat in Warangal.

K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), the leader of the BRS party, has assigned his son, former Minister K.T. Rama Rao, to boost the morale of party members and prevent further defections. To do so, KCR quickly announced the party's initial list of candidates for four Lok Sabha seats, including two currently occupied by sitting MPs Nama Nageswara Rao (Khammam) and Maloth Kavitha (Mahabubabad). It is believed that these leaders might have defected to other parties had swift action not been taken. Nevertheless, there are still concerns about the loyalty of the remaining MPs, so KCR and BRS executive working president K.T. Rama Rao is holding meetings at the parliamentary constituency level to instil confidence in them. Intensive outreach programs are also underway at the grassroots level to bolster support.

Political analyst Karanam Rajesh has noted that the fortunes of the BRS party have undergone a dramatic transformation since the 2019 elections, during which it secured nine Lok Sabha seats. However, the party is currently grappling with a mass exodus of its leaders, highlighting the severity of the crisis faced by the BRS.

Bodanapally Venugopal Reddy, CEO of TSat and a political observer, emphasises that the BRS should not complain about the defections as they are a form of political revenge. He notes the irony of the situation, highlighting how BRS leaders discard their pink scarves soon after losing power, which shows their lack of ideological commitment.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been taking advantage of the disagreement within the BRS and actively contacting defectors to strengthen its party. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Telangana has increased the number of BRS members switching to the BJP. The BJP's decision to field candidates with BRS backgrounds is a part of its strategy to utilise the talented workforce within the BRS, even though there is internal dissatisfaction among grassroots workers.

The Congress party utilises its recent electoral victory and support from marginalised communities to strengthen its position in Telangana. By fielding strong candidates, the Congress aims to take advantage of the disorganisation within the BRS and establish itself as a dominant force in the state.

Amid this political turmoil, the BRS has found an ally in the Telangana Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar. Dr Kumar's decision to team up with the BRS provides much-needed support, particularly in constituencies where the party is facing significant challenges. However, the BRS continues to struggle with internal discord and external pressure from opposing parties striving for control in Telangana's political arena.