Telangana: BRS needs ideological glue to make national tag stick

HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhara Rao faces a number of challenges in his quest to make Bharat Rashtra Samthi (BRS) into a party that has national appeal. While he has to fight anti-incumbency in Telangana after being in power for two consecutive terms, he also has to look for a broader political ideology that appeals to a range of people and helps them gravitate towards BRS.
KCR has said that his renamed outfit will raise issues of farmers, Dalits and tribals. However, political pundits say he should work towards a ideological agenda. All national parties, whether it is the BJP, Congress or Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), have a core ideology which becomes their driving force.
Locally, TRS had got 48% vote share in the 2018 Telangana assembly elections. Holding on to such a high number will be a tough ask, although KCR still holds sway, especially among rural voters. While schemes like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, and Aasara pensions are a big hit, the TRS government has also launched Dalit Bandhu, 2-BHK housing scheme and job openings among others. Analysts say it is difficult to estimate the political impact of the schemes and whether they will help KCR win a third term.
To find a foothold in other states, BRS may try to make its presence felt in the districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka which have a border with Telangana. There have been instances in the past where farmers from border areas have asked for the same welfare schemes that their counterparts in Telangana get. Convincing them to vote for BRS may be a different ball game.
In the other Telugu state of Andhra Pradesh, however, there is still a lot of resentment over the carving out of Telangana in 2014 and convincing people to vote for KCR will be a challenge.
Former MLC and political analyst Professor K Nageshwar says, "A big challenge for KCR is having a saleable narrative. Mere agenda of welfare schemes won't make BRS a credible ideological alternative to BJP." He added that KCR must present a credible governance model. Several parties take up welfare schemes and BRS can't take exclusive ownership of pension or farmer welfare schemes.
"Mere criticism of BJP doesn't make any sense. While Telangana has Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, the Centre has PM Kisan Yojana, Ayushamn Bharat and Garib Kalyan Yojana. A few leaders here and there joining BRS won't help. KCR needs articulate leaders in all states. There should be a paradigm shift from a person-centric party to multiple leadership in different states," he adds.