BRS leaders wary of national foray

NAVEENA GHANATE
Hyderabad

BRS leaders are divided over national ambitions with a segment being active participants while another being passive.While publicly everyone supports BRS saying “Jai Bharat” and encouraging K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s national aspirations, somewhere there is uncertainty about the agenda.

The passive netas don’t want to look beyond their constituency or state while active participants are making sure they are in the good books of KCR by being present all the time. Several passive netas skipped going to New Delhi for the inauguration of BRS office.

Moreover, the optics at the inaugural also left a section of BRS leaders sore. Sources indicated that neither economists nor retired judges or officers or even big farmer leaders met the CM. “All those who went from here met him there.”

Party leaders were hoping for some big statement but it seemed to be a dull affair. Some party leaders indicated that with KT Rama Rao skipping the event, their absence at the event was not even felt. Many leaders skipped the event and each one has their own reason.

Many of the leaders have their own ambitions and it doesn’t suit national aspirations. “We are cut out to be in our constituency and that will be my focus. If we are asked to play a role we may have to, but so far no direction has come,” said a leader who switched to BRS.

Sources in the party rubbished allegations of division in the party. A party leader said, “There might be uncertainty on individuals’ roles in the BRS and many are reluctant to change. There is no division as such among leaders. Even earlier there was a talk around Bangaru Telangana and Udyamam Telangana leaders. Now there is this kind of talk. It is nothing uncommon. Things will fall in place as the party moves forward. Even KCR said that initially we will have to face a lot of brickbats and this is one of those.”