Hyderabad: Two days after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) renamed the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), marking his party’s foray into national politics, his son and state Information Technology Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) said Friday that the party aims to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with focus first on neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka.
“We have decided to go national and are well aware of the hurdles we would face if we want to be recognised as a national party. The 2024 Parliament elections are our target and we will do whatever it takes by that time to contest (outside of Telangana),” KTR said during a media interaction.
“Our impact will obviously be felt in immediate neighbouring states which is why our focus is Maharashtra and Karnataka next. (HD) Kumaraswamy had already extended his support to us for the same,” he further said, adding: “In the interim (till 2024 Lok Sabha polls), if any other elections happen, party will decide what needs to be done.”
Newly branded as the BRS — subject to Election Commission approval — the first test for the party will be the upcoming Munugode assembly bypoll in Nalgonda district on 3 November.
Lashing out at the BJP and pitching the BRS as an alternative to take the Telangana model of governance across the country, KTR called Prime Minister Narendra Modi the most “inefficient and inept” person holding the highest post.
“When people ask what has been done for Telangana, we have proof to show how our IT exports have gone up, our Gross State Domestic Product, how the state went from being power deficit to power surplus, and how our agricultural exports shot up. But I am asking you what Narendra Modi has delivered,” he said.
The minister went on to say that while the rupee is at its “lowest”, unemployment is “at its highest in 45 years”.
“Modi is the most inefficient and inept Prime Minister. He is not pradhan mantri, he is prachar mantri (Publicity Minister),” he said, adding that agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation are being used as “hunting dogs” on opposition parties.
Also Read: ‘TRS in Telangana, BRS elsewhere?’ KCR wants to go national, but his party leaders not in the loop
On Congress & Pegasus
Calling out the BJP for their “polarising politics”, KTR asked why the Union government celebrated 17 September particularly as Hyderabad Liberation Day, and not as a merger or integration.
“What was the need for the Union government to call 17 September — a liberation day? And if that’s the case, should 15 August also not be the same? Should we keep remembering the kind of atrocities that were committed by the rulers at that time? And if yes, then why did the Indian government declare a mourning day when the Queen died?” KTR further said.
On 17 September, 1948, the erstwhile state of Hyderabad was merged with India. This year, the Union government announced year-long celebrations for the same. Both the TRS and BJP were at loggerheads over celebrating the day with much pomp. Ahead of the assembly elections due next year, the recognition and celebration of the day has become a political flashpoint in the state even as the BJP is trying to establish itself as the key opposition to TRS.
Asked about Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, scheduled to enter Telangana on 24 October, KTR said: “No one seems to care about it. Congress is facing existential crisis. The party is the biggest liability on the country. Congress cannot make it any difference…The whole party is in shambles.”
Without naming anyone, the minister also claimed that two Congress MPs from Telangana are set to jump ship to the ruling party before the yatra enters the state.
The Congress has three MPs from Telangana: A Revanth Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy.
ThePrint reached Telangana Congress president A Revanth Reddy’s office via messages but did not receive a response. This report will be updated if a response is recieved.
KTR also alleged that his phone was being tapped: “Pegasus is there in at least 10,000 phones of journalists, officials, politicians etc. Even my phone is being tapped with Pegasus and information is being accessed…”
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
Also Read: KTR extends Hyderabad invite to Munawar Faruqui & Kunal Kamra, says ‘we don’t cancel shows’