No pre-poll alliance with any party in 2024 elections: Telangana minister KT Rama Rao

HYDERABAD: Amid talk of opposition unity ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) seems to have made up its mind to stay away from pre-poll alliances.
BRS working president KT Rama Rao told TOI in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that his party was no longer seeking to form a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance to take on the BJP at the Centre. According to him, most regional parties are more interested in protecting their turf, their sphere of influence.
For the time being, BRS will focus on immediate neighbourhood for Lok Sabha polls - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, apart from Telangana, that have enough Lok Sabha seats to make an impact. Although, the party is open to post poll alliances if necessary.
"Bringing various leaders on a single platform will not happen in a divergent political situation," he said. "KCR garu has realised this after meeting several leaders of regional parties. Because they have their own agendas, challenges in their own backyards and focus also varies from state to state. For instance, in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee's main opponent is BJP, not Congress. Hence her focus is on BJP. When it comes to Telangana, BJP is a non-entity and Congress is the main rival," KTR said.
The senior BRS leader ridiculed Rahul Gandhi's remarks that Congress would not ally with BRS. "Who would want an alliance with Congress?" he asked mockingly.
KCR converted TRS into BRS on October 5 last year.
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He had held a public meeting in Khammam immediately with AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI leader D Raja sharing the stage.
At the time, this was seen as the initial signs of a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance taking shape.
The BRS chief has been maintaining good relations with JD (S) leader and Karnataka former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, who even attended the BRS launch meeting in Hyderabad.
KCR also has good terms with SP's Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, JMM's Hemanth Soren and even DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin.
KTR said, the party would contest Lok Sabha elections in adjoining Maharashtra and Karnataka in 2024. He hoped JD (S) would emerge as the dark horse in the Karnataka assembly elections.
"There are 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, 28 in Karnataka, 25 in Andhra Pradesh and 17 in Telangana," KTR added.
"We have enough work in these states to begin with and areas where the party could grow in the shortest time. We are not looking to contest in Mizoram or Nagaland immediately."
He also said there was overwhelming response to BRS in Maharashtra, where KCR has held public meetings - in Nanded and Loha. A third one will be held in Aurangabad soon.
The government is giving priority for erstwhile Hyderabad areas now in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
According to him, people in border areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra can experience the impact of Telangana's schemes like Rythu Bandhu.
This is especially true of the farming community, many of whom have land in neighbouring states as well.
"People started thinking that if Telangana could give them 24x7 power, Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, and water to every household, why can't the other state governments."