By branding each undelivered scheme as a “debt,” the BRS hopes to simplify the Opposition narrative into a message that can be taken door-to-door.
Published Sep 28, 2025 | 9:11 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 28, 2025 | 9:11 AM
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao during a public meeting.
Synopsis: Ahead of the upcoming local body polls, the BRS in Telangana launched its “Congress Debt (Baaki) Card” campaign to expose what it calls the “mountain of unpaid debts” the Congress government owes to the people. The ruling party stormed into office in December 2023 with a raft of promises, most notably its six “guarantees”.
The BRS in Telangana has begun reworking its political playbook with a sharp narrative against the ruling Congress ahead of the upcoming local body polls.
On Saturday, 27 September, the party launched its “Congress Debt (Baaki) Card” campaign — a symbolic and confrontational move aimed at exposing what it calls the “mountain of unpaid debts” the Congress government owes to the people.
The campaign, unveiled at Telangana Bhavan by BRS working president KT Rama Rao in the presence of senior leaders and former ministers, seeks to turn the tables on the Congress’s pre-election “Guarantee Card” strategy.
If the Congress’s guarantees propelled it to power, BRS hopes its “Debt Card” will serve as a reminder of betrayal, energising its cadre and re-anchoring itself as the party of accountability.
The Debt Card directly negates Congress’s electoral plank. The ruling party stormed into office in December 2023 with a raft of promises, most notably its six “guarantees” targeting farmers, women, unemployed youth, and the elderly. Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, and the BRS leadership now argue that these guarantees, far from being fulfilled, have instead accumulated into a list of “debts” the government owes citizens.
By branding each undelivered scheme as a “debt,” the BRS hopes to simplify the Opposition narrative into a message that can be taken door-to-door. The Debt Cards have been printed in Telugu, Urdu and English to maximise penetration across social groups.
In his speech, KTR listed what he called a “ledger of lies.” Among the highlights are:
“This list is endless Every section of society has been betrayed.” he said.
The party also warned that flagship BRS-era schemes like Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima could face the axe if Congress remains in power.
Beyond rhetoric, the Debt Card campaign is seen as a strategic recalibration. The BRS suffered a major blow in December 2023 when Congress rode a welfare-heavy plank to dislodge it after a decade in power. Since then, the BRS has been struggling to reorganize its grassroots cadre, fend off defections, and reclaim political relevance.
The local body elections which are likely to be held soon, present an opportunity. Unlike Assembly polls dominated by charismatic leaders and statewide issues, panchayat and municipal elections are deeply local, with welfare delivery and beneficiary satisfaction playing a decisive role.
Making “unfulfilled guarantees” the centerpiece of its campaign, the BRS hopes to exploit growing voter impatience with the Congress government.
Interestingly, KTR invoked his father and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s warning during the 2023 campaign: “If you make a mistake, you will suffer.” He cast this as prophetic, suggesting that the electorate now regrets trusting Congress’s guarantees.
By doing so, BRS is attempting to reposition the image of Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Once accused of complacency and arrogance after two terms in power, he is now being projected as a leader who foresaw the “betrayal.”
This could be an early attempt at rehabilitating KCR’s political capital ahead of 2028.
While some schemes have been rolled out partially — such as electricity bill relief under Gruhajyothi — others remain pending due to fiscal strain. The Opposition’s framing of delays as “debts” threatens to overshadow whatever progress has been made.
KTR also accused Congress of resorting to “vindictive politics” by foisting false cases on BRS leaders. He asserted that the Opposition will “fight in the courts and in the people’s court.”
This dual-front strategy — resisting legal pressure while simultaneously running a populist ground campaign — suggests BRS is determined to stay visible, preventing Congress from monopolising political discourse.
The upcoming panchayat, Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC) elections are being treated by both parties as a warm up exdericse for future 2028 Assembly elefctions challenget.
For BRS, a strong showing would prove its grassroots network remains intact and help stop defections. For Congress, retaining momentum will be critical to establishing durability beyond its Assembly victoryn.
The Debt Card campaign reflects BRS’s recognition that welfare politics remains the dominant currency in Telangana. By flipping the Congress narrative of “guarantees” into “debts,” the party is betting on voter frustration with delays to give it an opening.
Whether this strategy yields results will depend on two factors: the Congress government’s ability to fast-track at least some high-visibility schemes before polls, and the BRS cadre’s ability to sustain aggressive door-to-door outreach.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
