The meeting took place as party workers sought clarity about BRS's future following its unexpected defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Published Feb 19, 2025 | 11:42 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 19, 2025 | 11:42 PM
BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Synopsis: Former Telangana Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao made his first public appearance in seven months on Wednesday, expressing complete confidence in his party’s return to power despite losing the 2023 Assembly elections and seeing 10 MLAs defect to Congress. The BRS announced plans for a massive public rally on April 27 to mark its silver jubilee, alongside a year-long celebration and organizational revamp including new committees and a membership drive.
Former Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed complete confidence in his party’s return to power at an extended executive meeting at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad on Wednesday, 19 Febraury. Making his first public appearance after a seven-month absence, KCR declared, “I am 100 per cent sure we will come to power again.”
The party announced plans for a massive public meeting on 27 April to mark its silver jubilee, commemorating its founding in 2001. The celebrations will continue as a year-long event, with a delegates’ meeting scheduled for the second week of April.
Addressing the defection of 10 BRS MLAs to the Congress, KCR said by-elections were inevitable and urged party workers to ensure victory. “You have to demonstrate your strength in the by-elections,” he said.
The meeting took place as party workers sought clarity about BRS’s future following its unexpected defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections. KCR’s confident address appeared to energise the party leaders present.
The BRS chief launched a scathing attack of the Congress government, stating it had failed on all fronts. He called upon party cadres to fight against the Congress on behalf of the people. “Only the BRS understands and shares the concerns of the people. It alone can really wage a battle against the Congress,” he said.
KCR reminded the gathering that Telangana, created after a protracted struggle, was now on a retrogressive path under the present dispensation. He called upon people to rise and restore Telangana’s past glory, expressing surprise at the Congress’s rapidly declining popularity and growing public opposition. He criticised the current government’s inability to maintain state revenue despite having the same officials in place.
Describing the BRS as a child born from Telangana’s socio-historical needs and aspirations, KCR emphasised that BRS was the political identity of Telangana and had achieved statehood. He urged party cadre to work towards awakening all sections of Telangana society, strengthening its identity, and ensuring the state would not face similar challenges again.
The party announced several organisational initiatives. Former minister T Harish Rao was appointed as committee in-charge, with plans to form women’s committees soon. The membership drive will begin on 10 April, continuing at every district headquarters. Senior leaders will form sub-committees to strengthen affiliated organisations, with a representatives’ meeting scheduled for the 10th of each month. KCR spoke extensively about the struggles and efforts made for Telangana’s creation, reminding leaders of the long journey ahead.
Party Working President K T Rama Rao later briefed the media about KCR’s emphasis that in elections, people should win. “Parties may win or lose. But people should win,” KTR quoted KCR as saying.
KTR highlighted alarming suicide statistics under the Congress government’s policies: 430 farmers, 55 children in hostels, 100 auto drivers, 30 weavers, and several real estate businessmen had ended their lives due to what he called “lopsided policies.”
He criticised both Congress and BJP, noting that despite having eight MPs each, they failed to secure fair treatment for Telangana in Krishna waters allocation and central funds distribution. KTR concluded by reiterating KCR’s assertion that BRS would act as the armor for people against the Congress government’s policies.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
