Rumours Of KT Rama Rao Being Made Telangana Chief Minister: Four Reasons Why He May Replace His Father KCR

Unnerved over the splendid show of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Telangana State is reportedly toying with the idea of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) stepping down to make his son KT Rama Rao (KTR) the chief minister.

KCR and KTR are silent over the rumours, while the TRS cadre is a confused lot. There are speculations that the change over will likely happen in mid-February.

Such rumours have done the rounds earlier, but this time, the change seems to be on the cards for at least four reasons.

The first and foremost reason is that KCR is not keeping good health. Local media says he has trouble with his lungs.

A clear picture is not available, but KCR probably wants to anoint his son as the chief minister so that there will be a smooth succession.

This is also a move to scuttle any attempts by KCR’s nephew Harish Rao, the State Finance Minister, to upstage KTR later.

The second reason is that KCR wants to play a prominent role in national politics on the heels of his call for the formation of a coalition of various parties, except the Congress, against the BJP.

By putting KTR in charge of the State, KCR, perhaps, feels he would have more time to spend for national causes and probably, nurses an ambition for a bigger role.

The third reason, which is more likely, is the BJP’s rise in Telangana. KCR has been the anchor of TRS politics and this has made the BJP’s job easy to target him for various failures.

The BJP in Telangana has dubbed him as an “immobile chief minister” since he has confined himself to his official residence and farmhouse. During GHMC elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a tongue-in-cheek remark asking KCR to work from his office.

By making KTR the chief minister, the TRS feels the party would bring in a fresh outlook in the administration that could even be termed TRS 2.0.

The argument favouring the change is that the BJP’s attack is centred around KCR and bringing KTR could catch the national party on the wrong foot.

KTR's approach could be in contrast to his father’s and might attempt to transform the party’s image. He is also seen as a suave person and thus could totally change the attitude towards the party.

The fourth reason is an attempt to divert the attention from the party’s none too encouraging show in the GHMC elections and its loss in the Dubbak byelections to the Assembly.

KTR is the working president of the party and had declared that TRS would win at least 100 seats in GHMC elections and ensure that the BJP does not get its deposit back in the Assembly by elections.

In the GHMC elections, the BJP almost upset the TRS apple cart, while it ran away the victor in the by elections.

KTR was the one who was more involved in the campaigning. If he is as good as some political observers term him, then he should have shown it through results in both these elections.

There are other arguments that KTR will bring in a Chief Executive Officer image to the Chief Minister’s post or that he will be able to charm the youth.

Though there is no confirmation of the possibility of a change at the helm in the State, local media seems to have begun a campaign for KTR. That arouses the suspicion that a change, perhaps, is around the corner.