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Published Dec 29, 2025 | 1:36 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 29, 2025 | 1:36 PM
K Chandrashekar Rao. (X)
He came, shook hands, took in the all-familiar sights, sounds and scent, and left.
Telangana’s political grapevine had been abuzz about the impending ‘visit’ of K Chandrashekar Rao to the state Assembly, which materialised on Monday, 29 December.
The ‘visit’ — he belonged to the House, but had been staying away — lasted only a few minutes. Chandrashekar Rao — KCR, as he is popularly known— walked in at 10:30 am, a time that many other MLAs would consider to be “too early”.
Once in the House after a long hiatus, KCR was escorted to his seat by BRS MLAs, who made a beeline to greet him, perhaps in an apparent bid to get noticed by the party supremo.
Courtesy calls followed. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy crossed the aisle, shook hands with his political rival, and enquired after his health. The enquiry was met with a terse, “Quite fine, thank you.”
Ministers and other Congress MLAs, too, went to the Opposition bench to greet KCR, a rare moment that resembled a political reunion, minus the nostalgia.
When the proceedings began, condolence motions were taken up for two former legislators. KCR then rose, walked out, and was ceremoniously seen off by his party colleagues, who ensured he reached his Nandinagar residence safely.
Inside the House, there was bonhomie and banter, but like most political courtesies, it was a carefully polished veneer. It is no secret that the Chief Minister and his predecessor do not see eye to eye. Still, Revanth Reddy appeared determined to live up to his earlier promise that KCR would be accorded due respect whenever he attended the Assembly—irrespective of the treatment meted out to him in public meetings.
Civility, it seemed, was the order of the day—at least for the cameras. The show of courtesy was consistent with Revanth Reddy’s earlier hospital visit to KCR after the latter underwent a hip surgery following a fall at his farmhouse.
Later, with candid honesty, the Chief Minister admitted in a media interview that the visit served a “dual purpose,” also letting him know who was now calling the shots in the state.
All of this, however, may well be the calm before the storm. It remains to be seen whether KCR will actively participate in the upcoming debates, particularly the heated exchanges over who has better protected Telangana’s water rights—the BRS or the Congress—in dispute with the sibling state of Andhra Pradesh.
What is clear, though, is the BRS is sharpening its rhetorical knives, ready to go for the Congress jugular over what it perceives as an innate disinterest in safeguarding Telangana’s farmers.
For now, smiles were exchanged, hands shaken, and exits made. The real drama, as ever, is only a debate away.
