KCR woos Brahmins ahead of Assembly polls, announces increase in honorarium to Vedic scholars

Also read: KCR announces 3-week-long Telangana Formation Day event

Payment to archakas increased

The chief minister also announced the extension of the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme, aimed at providing sustenance to smaller shrines, to an additional 3,796 temples. Already, 3,654 temples come under the scheme.

The government has raised the amount payable to the archakas, or priests, in these temples to ₹10,000 from ₹6,000 per month under the scheme.

The inauguration of the Gopanpally building, which would help the community host cultural programmes and would also house the Sadan’s office, is being seen as an indication of KCR rolling his political dice ahead of Assembly elections.

The population of Brahmins in the two Telugu states is estimated to be about three percent.

As BJP has already stolen a march over others in impressing Brahmins who are among the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) with 10 percent reservations, other parties are trying to wean them away.

As they include priests who are spiritual and cultural icons as they offer prayers to gods in temples, helping a Brahmin is considered a goodwill gesture in villages.

విప్రహిత తెలంగాణ బ్రాహ్మణ సంక్షేమ సదనాన్ని ప్రారంభించిన అనంతరం ఏర్పాటు చేసిన సభలో ప్రసంగిస్తున్న సీఎం శ్రీ కేసీఆర్. Live: CM Sri KCR addressing the gathering after inaugurating 'Viprahitha Telangana Brahmana Samkshema Sadan' at Gopanpally, Hyderabad. https://t.co/wccgeEa7aC

— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) May 31, 2023

Political parties cosy up to Brahmins

In this context, all political parties, understanding the influence the Brahmins still wield in these two states, have been trying to cosy up to them.

Traditionally, the Brahmins have been supporters of the Congress in the Telugu states. But in Telangana, they seem to have shifted towards the BJP because of its Hindutva aura, EWS reservations, and the Congress losing its steam.

Though KCR had set up Telangana Brahmin Samkshema Parishad in January 2017 with a corpus of ₹100 crore with which the body takes up several welfare schemes for the benefit of Brahmins and their children, there are no indications that the Brahmins have actually come under his spell.

In Telangana, they are, in fact, perceived to have moved closer to BJP, while in Andhra Pradesh they are unable to take a call.

The Brahmins have been opposed to the TDP, and though YSRCP was born out of the ashes of the Congress, they have their reservations in supporting the ruling party as its supremo and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is a Christian who wears his religion on his sleeve.

Also read: BJP seems less likely choice for ex-BRS leader P Srinivas Reddy 

Slipping away from Congress?

In the past, Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh were with the Congress and as the BJP is more or less non-existent in the state, they do not see much allure in the party.

In fact, Jagan Mohan Reddy tried to cosy up to them but could not make much headway as his party is identified basically with the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

“Even now, though they do not show it outwardly, many Brahmins look down upon the SCs and STs. They are not very comfortable with the YSRCP and it is doubtful if they would support the party at the hustings,” one Brahmin, who chose to remain anonymous, told South First.

He said that whether it is in Telangana or Andhra, or for that matter at the national level, ruling parties honour Brahmins as it gives them a feeling that they are on the side of dharma and gods.

As Brahmins are considered scholars, giving respect to them adds to their image, he said.

“The ruling party leaders think Brahmins’ blessings are essential for them to go up the political ladder,” he added.