KCR: Many miles to go to keep promises

The TRS plenary, the first after the party came to power in Telangana, has elected K Chandrashekar Rao as the party president for the eighth successive time. This plenary is aimed at giving a clear direction the rank and file that it is time for the party and the government to move in unison.

Despite several odds, KCR had re-kindled decades long struggle for a separate state and succeeded in mobilising the support of almost all political parties across the country. There were times when all-out efforts were made to sabotage the agitation for separate state. The TRS saw several ups and downs.

It had to face severe rough weather under the leadership of Chief Ministers like Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.KCR, who was the Deputy Speaker of AP State assembly, started background work on Telangana during early 2000. After detailed deliberations with a plethora of Telangana intellectuals, he announced the launch of TRS on May 17 2001. In 2004, the TRS entered into a poll alliance with the Congress party.

It won 26 seats in the Assembly and 5 MPs, and thus became part of the coalition governments both at Centre and in the State. In April 2008, TRS MLAs quit the Congress-led State government in protest against the delay in Telangana formation. But, the party could retain only 7 MLA and 2 Lok Sabha seats in the by-election later.KCR was instrumental in ensuring that the UPA-1 included the Statehood promise in its Common Minimum Programme.

Recalling those days, KCR told the plenary, “There were many an occasion when I lost confidence,” but went on to add that it was the unwavering cadres who emboldened him to carry on the struggle. Finally, his relentless struggle paid off and all parties including the TDP gave the Centre letters in support of separate Telangana. Interestingly, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday claimed that he was the first to give letter in support of Telangana State, but conveniently ignored the fact that he had done so as he was left with no other option.

But after it was catapulted to power, the TRS party seems to be fumbling and is yet to keep its promise of ushering in extraordinary governance for rapid all-round development of the new State. Of course, their governance isn’t too bad, though. It has its own set of problems – electoral promises are yet to be fulfilled. The government has failed to prove that is different from other political parties and continues to tow the same line of others, seeking to weaken its opponents.

By Ramu Sarma