SNCN ACHARYULU
Is BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao away from national politics? After the defeat in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, KCR has been silent and staying at his farm house in Erravelli. It appears that KCR put politics aside and concentrating on farming at his farm house. BRS circles feel that though their party has no role in the Lok Sabha, there is scope for KCR to play a key role in national politics, because in the Rajya Sabha, BRS has five members, YSR Congress has 11 members and the BJD has 9 members. In the Rajya Sabha, the BJP-led NDA has no majority. If KCR from Telangana, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy from Andhra Pradesh and Naveen Patnaik from Odisha unite, they can become a third force in the Rajya Sabha with 25 members strength. Odisha former chief minister Naveen Patnaik has taken clear stand against the BJP in the Rajya Sabha and former AP chief minister Jagan will take anti-BJP stand since in the State, the TDP has joined the NDA or not is not yet clear. The BRS circles feel if these three former chief ministers stand against the BJP some more parties may also join this group. Amid no clear majority to the BJP-led NDA or to the Congress-led INDIA in the Rajya Sabha, if a third force is formed, it will gain importance.
KCR has good relations with Jagan and Naveen Patnaik. Interestingly, both Jagan and Naveen Patnaik were hit by the BJP in the recent Assembly elections. Both Jagan and Naveen Patnaik had moved closely to the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre till the recent Lok Sabha elections. They supported the Central government in both the Houses in critical times. In spite of this, in Andhra Pradesh the BJP joined hands with the TDP, which is the main political rival of YSR Congress headed by Jagan. In Odisha, bypassing the pre-poll alliance with the BJD headed by Naveen Patnaik, the BJP contested alone in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Jagan in Andhra Pradesh and Naveen Patnaik in Odisha lost power in the Assembly elections. Like BRS in Telangana, the BJD in Odisha did not win a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections. The YSRCP won four seats in AP. Under the circumstances, if KCR takes the initiative to form the third force in the Rajya Sabha, he can play a role in the national politics, the BRS circles feel.
