KTR steps into KCR shoes?

KCR will not involve himself in the GHMC polls seemingly giving an opportunity to his energetic son to prove his statesmanship qualities and emerge as an undisputed leader later

Hyderabad: IT and Panchayat Raj Minister K Taraka Rama Rao is slowly but steadily emerging as the new icon of ruling TRS for the ensuing GHMC polls.

According to party sources, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has entrusted the responsibility of winning majority seats in the GHMC elections to KTR and Energy Minister G Jagdishwar Reddy. These two leaders will be taking care of everything from selection of candidates to campaign strategies in the GHMC polls.

There appears to be a strategic move in bringing KTR into lime light. KCR, the sources said, will not involve himself much in the GHMC polls seemingly giving an opportunity to his energetic son to prove his statesmanship qualities and thereby emerge as an undisputed leader to steer the party after his illustrious father.

As voters in GHMC limits are comparatively cosmopolitan in nature, the party leadership has felt that though there are many city leaders like Dy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali, Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy and others, it should bring a dynamic and well-educated leader to the forefront. Since KTR has an added advantage over other city leaders in attracting the voters, the party leadership has given him the GHMC responsibility.

Further, KTR is sophisticated and can speak fluently in many languages and strike an instant chord with the voters whether they be the non-Telugu speaking communities like Marwadis and all Hindi speaking communities, said a senior party leader Singireddy Srinivas Reddy.

Being the minister for Information Technology and highly tech savvy, KTR can instantly get connected with the large number of techies who are concentrated in areas like Madhapur, Kukatpally etc. His fluency in Telugu can also easily win over the voters from Andhra. KTR will also be responsible for political management.

It may be recalled that recently KTR not only went on day long spree of laying foundation stone for two Bed Room houses in the city, but also took up the responsibility of meeting the TDP leader form Khairatabad G Vijayarama Rao and convinced him to join the TRS. He had also met Congress leader and former minister Danam Nagender who had decided to join the TRS but backed out in the last minute.

So far, the TRS has been giving responsibility of poll management to the Major Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao. But the strategy seems to have changed from the Warangal Lok Sabha byelection. Harish Rao during Warangal bypoll was restricted to a particular area. In case of GHMC elections, Harish Rao does not appear to be playing any role and is virtually restricted to his departmental activities. According to some reports, the emergence of KTR as the most important leader for the GHMC elections is seen as an indication that he would be the successor to KCR in future to head the party.