Former Telangana CM KCR to Hold Public Meeting in February, Expected to Reclaim BRS Leadership

Speaking at a meeting in Zaheerabad, the BRS supremo urged party leaders to unite and dedicate themselves to the progress of Telangana, even if it meant making personal sacrifices.

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) is expected to hold a public meeting in Telangana by the end of February. This marks his anticipated return to active politics after a period of relative silence.

KCR, who has been largely absent from the political forefront since the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections, hinted at a strong comeback, stating, "I am closely monitoring the Congress government’s functioning. I am silent right now, and the government isn’t aware of my striking ability."

The former CM criticized the Congress-led government, claiming widespread dissatisfaction among the public. "Power cuts have become common since they took charge," KCR alleged. He also pointed out issues like fresh water shortages in the state and accused the Congress of suppressing dissent by filing cases against those who raise questions.

During a meeting in Zaheerabad, KCR urged BRS leaders to unite and fight for Telangana’s progress, even at the cost of personal sacrifice.

BRS’ Loss in the 2023 Elections and KCR’s Political Absence
The 2023 Telangana state elections proved to be a significant setback for the BRS. The party, which had been in power since the state’s formation in 2014, managed to secure only 39 seats, while the Congress claimed victory with 64 seats, just surpassing the required majority of 60. Additionally, 10 BRS MLAs have since defected to the ruling Congress party.

KCR’s political strategy, which heavily relied on flagship schemes like *Rythu Bandhu* (providing subsidies to land-owning farmers) and Dalit Bandhu (offering Rs. 10 lakh to Dalit households), failed to counter anti-incumbency sentiment.

The BJP also played a critical role in shaping the election results. The saffron party secured 20% of the vote share and won eight seats, significantly eating into the vote banks of both the BRS and Congress. This was a substantial leap from their 7% vote share and single-seat win in the 2018 elections.

Following the loss, KCR announced a Bus Yatra in 2024 but retreated from public life soon after. In his absence, his son and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, along with his nephew and Siddipet MLA Harish Rao, have been steering the party, which is now the main opposition in Telangana.

KCR’s upcoming public meeting is seen as a crucial step in reclaiming his leadership role and rejuvenating the BRS ahead of future political battles.