BRS may revert to TRS; KTR plans state-wide Padayatra in 2027
KT Rama Rao, working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has indicated that the party is considering reverting to its original name, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), to revive Telangana sentiment and strengthen its cadre base. He announced plans for a state-wide Padayatra in 2027 and a membership drive to reconnect with grassroots leaders.
Mancherial: In a significant development, BRS working president KT Rama Rao has disclosed that the party was examining the issue of reverting the party name to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the party and reclaim political ground in Telangana.
Rama Rao has also announced plans to undertake a Statewide Padayatra in 2027 to raise public issues. He said the proposed padayatra would serve as a direct outreach to the people, focusing on grievances across sectors.
The announcement comes as the party attempts to consolidate its cadre base and regain momentum after electoral setbacks.
In an informal interaction with the media at the residence of former MLA Balka Suman in Kyathanpally on Sunday, Rama Rao made it clear that the BRS would contest future elections independently, ruling out alliances.
“We will fight on our own strength. Alliances have not worked for us in the past,” he said, asserting that the party would field only winning candidates in constituencies with strong prospects.
He indicated that the party might even replace sitting MLAs in certain regions, particularly in the Godavari basin, to improve electoral prospects. He expressed confidence that the induction of senior leader T Jeevan Reddy would further strengthen the party in north Telangana.
Responding to a question, Rama Rao admitted that the rebranding from Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) diluted the strong Telangana sentiment associated with the party. He indicated that the party was internally deliberating a possible return to its original name.
“We have lost politically due to the name change. The emotional connect people had with TRS and the pink flag is inseparable,” he said, adding that reviving the old identity could re-energise party workers. However, he asserted that a final decision will be taken by the party chief K Chandrashekhar Rao.
On the issue of delimitation, the BRS working president said an increase in the Assembly and Parliamentary seats would create new opportunities for the party. He maintained that if the delimitation exercise preserves Telangana’s existing proportional share where South India’s current share is around 24 per cent in Parliament, there would be no cause for concern. He argued that a uniform increase in seats would be beneficial for all States.
In a candid admission, Rama Rao acknowledged organisational shortcomings during the BRS’s decade-long tenure in power. He said the party failed to maintain effective coordination with grassroots leaders, including sarpanches and mandal-level representatives, and lacked a comprehensive policy for workers from Telangana employed in Gulf countries. He said these gaps contributed to a disconnect between the leadership and cadres.
To address this, he announced a membership drive in May and June, along with structured training programmes for party workers. Efforts would also be made to strengthen direct communication with cadres, drawing from best practices of other political parties like TDP, which maintained direct contact with grassroot level leaders.
Launching a sharp attack on the Congress government led by A Revanth Reddy, the former Minister accused it of failing farmers, students, and workers. He alleged that schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and farm loan waivers were poorly implemented, while fee reimbursement delays were affecting students. He also criticised irrigation planning, questioning budget allocations for projects like Pranahita-Chevella amid unresolved inter-State issues with Maharashtra.
He stated that the Chief Minister was losing credibility. He ridiculed that those going to prison would have a better possibility of becoming the Chief Minister. He also targeted the BJP, finding fault with the leadership for attempting to impose upon the public the notion that the country’s welfare and development solely depend on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Singareni, the BRS working president said workers were facing uncertainty due to expanding open-cast mining and shrinking employment opportunities. He announced plans to restructure the Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) to bring in new leadership and address workers’ concerns.
Dismissing speculation of internal rifts, he asserted that the party remains united under the leadership of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.
“Everyone in the party works for KCR. His word is final,” he reaffirmed, adding that he would continue to function as a loyal soldier executing the party chief’s directives.
Rama Rao offered a restrained but pointed response to remarks by his sister and Telangana Jagruthi founder K Kavitha, stating that personal actions should not cause distress to family members especially parents. He maintained that while anyone is free to float a political outfit, public support remains the ultimate test.
He exuded confidence that the BRS would stage a strong comeback, with public sentiment rapidly shifting against the ruling Congress.
“We have played the roles of a movement, a ruling party, and now a responsible opposition. We will reconnect with the people and return stronger,” he said.
