TRS plenary brings family fight to the fore

T he ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi’s (TRS) first plenary after the formation of the state was a success. The pink party, which has mastered the art of organising massive political jamborees, registered yet another milestone in its 14 years of existence. But the political show of strength also exhibited few chinks in its armour.

Reminiscent of the events that led to the split of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), of which TRS founder K Chandrasekhar Rao was a member, the plenary widened the fissures in the family-run TRS party.

 Once ignored by TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu, a distraught KCR quit the party, membership of the AP Legislative Assembly and the post of Deputy Speaker of the AP Legislature to float the TRS in 2001. KCR’s nephew, 43-year-old Thaneeru Harish Rao, the incumbent Cabinet Minister for Irrigation, Marketing & Legislative Affairs has been KCR’s right hand through the struggle for a separate state.

Born in Karimnagar, Harish Rao was elected from the Siddipet Assembly constituency for the first time in 2004 after the seat was vacated by his maternal uncle KCR. KCR chose to retain Karimnagar parliamentary seat which he won along with the Siddipet Assembly seat in the 2004 general elections. KCR offered the seat to Harish Rao who had just completed his studies. Since then Harish Rao become a force to reckon with in the party and also in northern Telangana.

Harish Rao had been the eyes and ears for KCR till 2009 after which two new players entered the game. KCR’s son K Taraka Rama Rao called as KTR and daughter K Kavitha entered the agitation for a separate state. Taraka Rama Rao, 39, is in the KCR Cabinet as IT and Panchayat Raj minister while Kavitha is an MP from Nizamabad and in-charge of TRS party’s cultural wing, Telangana Jagruthi. Both are US educated and well versed with the history of Telangana and can whip up passions in no time just like their father KCR.

After the formation of Telangana, the tilt towards KTR has become apparent. It is said that KCR, who has some health issues, is planning to go on a sabbatical and is not sure on delegating powers. The senior leader has to choose between his son and nephew. Stoking fire, the Telangana Congress has even said that KCR is afraid of another “August Crisis” during which Nara Chandrababu Naidu dethroned his father-in-law, N T Rama Rao, founder of the TDP. Ironically KCR was a part of the Naidu camp at that time.

During the past one year, a more polished, soft spoken KTR has emerged as the spokesperson of the government which is on mission to fund grandiose plans. While KCR and Harish are good public speakers, KTR is the new voice of an emerging state. KTR receives and holds meetings with investors, ambassadors and even assists his father in making all major decisions.

At one stage, the party cadre went gaga over the prospect of KTR being declared as working president of the party during the plenary. Harish Rao was kept out of the seven committees formed for the smooth conduct of the plenary. On the inaugural day, Harish was seated at the end of the stage and was allowed to speak only on one resolution on irrigation.

While Harish Rao wields his clout in Medak district and is almost invincible in Siddipet, the native place of K Chandrasekhar Rao, KTR is always seen as an outsider as his political stint was in the neighbouring Karimnagar and he is not ‘self-made’ as Harish. Political analy-sts draw similarities between the ambitious Harish and the wily Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

Brewing cold war

By keeping Harish away from the committees, the TRS chief has fuelled a cold war of sorts between Harish and KTR. It is believed that both the leaders have been propagating their own schemes to get maximum political mileage. While KTR desperately wants to promote his pet scheme, the Water Grid project, Harish Rao is busy with his Mission Kakatiya programme to restore minor irrigation tanks in Telangana.

Party sources say that if KCR declares KTR as the working president paving way to become his heir, a more efficient Harish might not stay calm. In fact, the unceremonious sacking of health minister Dr Rajaiah, close to Harish Rao, has widened the rift between the family members.

Closely observing the developments in TRS, TPCC spokesperson Shabbir Ali said that KCR is postponing his treatment plans in the US fearing a revolt at home. “Otherwise why is KCR trying to admit MLAs from other parties knowing very well that he got the numbers he needed in the Assembly. ”Ali says that KCR is scared of Harish Rao and he is afraid to admit it.

Political aspirations nurtured by family members and the dilemma of the patriarch in handing over the baton to the next generation have split parties in the Telugu land. The first break up in TDP took place in August 1984, when NTR was in the US for medical treatment. State finance minister Nadendla Bhaskara Rao formed government with the help of the opposition Congress (I). However, Nadendla’s government lasted for only a month.

The regional party was slated for another break up during its second term in 1994 when an emotional NTR announced his intention to marry Lakshmi Parvathi during a TDP plenary in Tirupathi. Perturbed by the growing clout of Lakshmi Parvathi and gradually declining health of NTR, Naidu revolted. Soon a heartbroken NTR died on January 18, 1996, after losing power to Naidu.