Buzz grows over KCR’S LS poll candidature
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The fact that KTR [KCR’S son KT Rama Rao] was made the working president of TRS and not included in the state cabinet is itself an indication of KCR’S plans to move to Delhi...
A TELANGANA RASHTRA SAMITHI (TRS) LEADER
HYDERABAD: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s announcement at Sunday’s rally at Karimnagar that he would play a major role in bringing about a qualitative change in national politics has triggered speculation that he may contest the April 11 Lok Sabha elections.
The nomination process for the first phase of elections began on Monday, but KCR, as the CM is popularly known, has kept the list of party candidates on hold. The only name that he announced was that of sitting Karimnagar MP B Vinod Kumar (which was done during Sunday’s rally).
“Let it remain a suspense. After all, it is a matter of two or three days to end the suspense,” said a TRS leader, who is close to KCR, responding to a query on KCR’S candidature.
According to this leader, there is every possibility that KCR will contest the Lok Sabha elections and take a plunge into the national politics straightaway. It would mean, leaving the turf in Telangana to his son and heir K T Rama Rao (aka KTR). “The fact that KTR was made the working president of TRS and not included in the state cabinet is itself an indication of KCR’S plans to move to Delhi, anointing his son as the next chief minister,” the party leader added, asking not to be identified.
The TRS chief is learnt to be undecided on the constituency from which he could contest the Lok Sabha polls. “Medak, which he won in 2014, is the best bet, because the TRS won all the assembly segments in this constituency with a huge majority in the December elections. However, he is said to be considering Nalgonda parliamentary constituency this time,” the party leader cited above said.
Apart from Medak, KCR has also represented Karimnagar and Mahbubnagar parliamentary constituencies, winning from them in 2004 and 2009 respectively.
There is also talk in the party that the CM might not contest the elections immediately, but would take a call after seeing the outcome of the general elections.
“If the Congress and the BJP fall short of numbers to form the government and regional parties like TRS, YSR Congress Party... get a bigger number, then KCR will move to Delhi to bring the federal front to power,” another party leader said, asking not to be named. But, if the National Democratic Alliance retains power with Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs, KCR will drop his plan to contest the LS polls, this person added.
Political analyst and author Sriram Karri said that if KCR decides to contest the Lok Sabha elections, it would be a sensational move. “A CM giving up power in the state and contesting the parliamentary polls is a big development, With the CM himself in fray, the TRS will have brighter prospects of winning all the 16 LS seats it would be contesting in Telangana,” he said.