NAVEENA GHANATE
Hyderabad
Contrary to public opinion, it is Ministers KT Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao who are heading the BRS war room. Earlier, it used to be Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Given the health constraints of the CM, both Harish and KTR have taken up responsibilities. Even if one looks at the Chief Minister’s speeches at public meetings they are only around 20 minutes and the biggest one so far was for 30 minutes in Jangaon. Even KCR’s constituencies of Gajwel and Kamareddy are divided among Harish and KTR.
If KTR and Harish Rao are not on the ground they are at the Pragathi Bhavan strategizing.
Interestingly, the message that both are equal was given by KCR himself through two incidents. He gave B-Forms to both of them at the Pragathi Bhavan before issuing it to MLAs at the Telangana Bhavan. Secondly, on Tuesday he campaigned for both of them on the same day. Both his speeches reflected confidence in the duo.
Sources said that while at the constituency level, individual leaders will take care at the state level Harish and KTR are taking care of BRS activities including inductions. Sources said that they are not racing against each other but rather working together. On several occasions in the recent past, Harish would invite someone to join the party and the formal induction would be in the presence of KTR.
Before the CM started his campaign the duo completed around 50 public meetings. This combination has pricked the opposition as well with Revanth calling them ‘Billa-Ranga.’ Interestingly, so far Harish has never commented on the allegation made by Modi that KCR wanted KTR to become the CM.
