KTR highlights BRS’ achievements, vision for Telangana
Says only two regional parties, NTR's Telugu Desam Party and KCR's BRS, managed to sustain themselves for 25 years, showing their lasting relevance and public support
Hyderabad: Emphasising the commitment of the BRS to the people of Telangana and its resilience as a political entity, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said on Saturday that the party continued to hold a unique place in India’s political history.
Addressing party leaders and elected representatives at Telangana Bhavan, he reflected on the long innings of the BRS, both as an organisation that spearheaded the movement for statehood of Telangana and later for the development of the State for nearly a decade before embarking on the present journey as a responsible opposition.
Stating that the BRS’ objective was not political power alone, he said the party could don a major role to steer the State in the right direction. He noted that only two regional parties, NTR’s Telugu Desam Party and KCR’s BRS, had managed to sustain themselves for 25 years, which shows their enduring relevance and public support.
He praised party president K Chandrashekhar Rao’s transformation from a determined agitator to an effective administrator. His role was acknowledged by leaders like former President Pranab Mukherjee and former Union Minister Arun Jaitley. Hailing the BRS chief ‘s leadership during the Telangana movement, he recalled the challenges he faced, including opposition from powerful political forces and skepticism from the public.
He highlighted the sacrifices made by leaders like Konda Lakshman Bapuji and the struggles endured by the party to establish itself as a voice for the people. He also spoke about the historical context of the Telangana movement, mentioning the sacrifices of 370 students in 1971 and the betrayal by Telangana Praja Samithi leaders who merged with Congress, which left the people disillusioned.
Despite these setbacks, Chandrashekhar Rao’s leadership and the grassroots efforts by the BRS reignited the movement, leading to the formation of Telangana in 2014.
Rama Rao outlined the party’s future plans, stressing the importance of the upcoming April 27 rally as a platform to showcase the party’s strength and unity. He expressed confidence in the ability of the BRS to continue serving the people of Telangana and reiterated the party’s vision for a prosperous and inclusive State.
Recalling the party’s electoral successes, he described them as milestones in its history and highlighted the 2017 GHMC elections, where the party won 99 out of 150 seats. He said the BRS made a clean sweep in Hyderabad during the 2018 Assembly elections, and the 2020 GHMC elections, which the party won without external alliances. He noted that the 2023 Assembly elections further cemented the BRS party’s dominance in Hyderabad, with the party’s flag flying high within the Outer Ring Road and Congress failing to win even a single seat.
Rama Rao criticised Congress and BJP, accusing them of misleading the people of Hyderabad with false promises and theatrics. He singled out Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, alleging that his actions disrupted the city’s real estate sector, causing widespread unemployment and economic hardship for the poor.
He also condemned the Congress’s failure to address issues like the beautification of Musi river, which he claimed was being used to deceive the public with empty promises.
