BRS President and Telangana CM KCR has a history of criticizing former Chief Minister of combined Andhra Pradesh, Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, both during his lifetime and even after his passing. KCR and his party were particularly displeased with YSR’s opposition to the bifurcation of the state, which resulted in the formation of separate Telangana. One major point of contention was the issue of free power supply to agriculture.
While YSR was credited with implementing this policy, KCR and his party leaders accused him of not providing enough power to farmers. They claimed that it was only after the formation of Telangana that farmers started receiving round-the-clock power supply at no cost. However, with the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana posing a threat from the Congress party, KCR and his team have strategically shifted their stance. They have now begun invoking YSR’s name to target Congress leaders, attempting to capitalize on his popularity.
During a recent state assembly discussion, KCR alleged that the Congress party had neglected YSR’s contributions to the state. He pointed out that after YSR’s untimely demise, the Congress mistreated his son Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, leading to the formation of his own party. Jagan went on to achieve significant success in the elections, further weakening the Congress’s position in Andhra Pradesh.
In an unexpected turn, KCR’s son and Telangana IT Minister, K T Rama Rao, also praised YSR and Jagan during his assembly speech. He highlighted YSR’s Arogya Sri scheme, which continues to benefit numerous people in Telangana. KTR also mentioned that Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy appreciated Telangana’s efforts in handling the Disha rape case during an AP assembly session. This strategic use of past adversaries to target current political rivals reflects the BRS’s determination to gain political advantage. As the election approaches, it remains to be seen how these developments will influence the political landscape in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.