KCR a tall leader in country now

TRS may have its own disadvantages as a political party like lack of a robust structure at the grassroots level or weaker internal democracy. But, that’s how political parties work and survive in India. As long as he can sew up a slew of welfare and development schemes to make Telangana great, he needs a disciplined party to run the government. KCR is at his best now

Sixteen years is not a long period in the history of a political party. Sixteen years is also not a small period in the history of a political party if it is born out of a specific context. As Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) celebrates its 16th anniversary in Warangal today, it is appropriate to take a look at the evolution of the party as well as its founder leader – K Chadrashekar Rao (KCR).

From being an obscure leader of a one-MLA party 16 years ago, KCR now is the Chief Minister of a State and commands 90 MLAs, 24 MLCs, 15 Lok Sabha MPs and three Rajya Sabha MPs. Once considered to be a pushover in politics, today he is a force to reckon with. Once ridiculed for his penchant for a struggle that was thought to be done with, KCR today is a key politician in the country.

KCR who shot into prominence thanks to his big and bold move of reviving the statehood agitation 16 years ago is a tall leader in the country. Thanks to his pragmatic politics shaped by the rough and tumble of realpolitik, KCR is today an important regional leader with national significance. His party currently enjoys unswerving support of people of Telangana, thanks to his stratagem over the years.

When he decided to launch a party to champion the cause of separate statehood for Telangana, not many believed that it was a workable idea. Many of his close friends in the then ruling TDP advised him against taking the political risk – of giving up his post of deputy speaker of Assembly – and entering into a gamble of separate state agitation. Past experiences made them think so. But, he defied their logic.

KCR started his TRS with a handful of followers, may be less than a 100, on April 27, 2001. Many came to see the inaugural meeting just for curiosity. But, they were startled to see him announce his resignation to his Deputy Speaker and MLA posts. People started taking him seriously only after that. Here is a leader who is ready to stake his political future for the sake of Telangana, they thought.

Thanks to his bold step, he got the Nizamabad zilla parishad where people had unanimously elected the TRS representatives for majority of the seats. Then on, one after the other the party spread to three other north Telangana districts – Karimnagar, Medak and Warangal. Other districts, including Hyderabad city were tough nuts for him for several years.

His calculated risk paid dividends. Today he is the leader of a party with 72 lakh primary members and thousands of elected representatives that entrenched up to every village level. Even though KCR is not part of the NDA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens to him on any issue due to his quick grasp of ever-changing political equations in the country.

KCR knew fully well his strengths and weaknesses. He was a good strategist and an orator. He was a good team leader and a task master. He understood the rigidity of ideological framework of both the national parties – Congress and BJP, and yet sensed avenues to work with them on specific issues – of striving for the larger goal of achieving separate state.

Many leaders, including President of India Pranab Mukherjee were astounded at his achievement when Telangana state was formed three years ago. As rightly pointed out by Mukherjee, only a very few leaders of mass agitations can see the fruits of their struggles during their lifetime. KCR is one such among the few.

However, all this hasn’t come easily to him. He adopted a pack of flexible and shrewd strategies over the last one-and-a-half decades. First he went with the Congress in UPA in 2004 and then he joined hands with TDP in grand alliance in 2009. In 2014, he followed a clever game of wooing Congress with the promise of merging his party with it but later decided to retain his own identity.

At the same time he ensured that he never swerved from his strategy that he can embrace anyone and everyone if that served his ultimate goal of achieving the State of Telangana. It’s no mean an achievement to collect the support of around 30 parties in Parliament for the cause of Telangana state between 2001 and 2004.

He always followed secular politics, yet he never shied of his own religious beliefs. He adopted pro-poor policies, but he openly encouraged IT and industries. He gave top priority to welfare of the poorest sections, and at the same time allocated huge funds to the development of infrastructure. In a word, he is all things to all people.

KCR single-handedly built and shaped TRS. He understood the art of politics as a tool of taking forward a public goal. First it was achieving Telangana and now developing it in all aspects. He learnt to be a good agitator, a perfect politician and an efficient administrator – all rolled into one. Perhaps rarely we can see a combination of all in one leader.

Of course, TRS may have its own disadvantages as a political party like lack of a robust structure at the grassroots level or weaker internal democracy. But, that’s how political parties work and survive in India. As long as he can sew up a slew of welfare and development schemes to make Telangana great, he needs a disciplined party to run the government. KCR is at his best now. Over to Warangal.

By Rama Krishna Sangem