Will KCR’s Farmhouse Politics Hurt BRS Again? Congress Sees an Opportunity
KCR is the biggest strength of the BRS—and he is also its biggest weakness. He followed the same style when he was in power, and he continues to do so now as the Leader of the Opposition. After the formation of Telangana, KCR ruled the state for nine-and-a-half years. During most of his tenure, his administration was largely confined to his farmhouse and Pragathi Bhavan. Claiming that the old Secretariat had serious Vastu-related defects, among other reasons, KCR rarely visited the Secretariat. He went a step further and had a new Secretariat constructed. The new Secretariat was initially taken up with an estimated cost of ₹616 crore. By the time construction was completed, however, the cost had reportedly crossed ₹1,100 crore. Even after spending so much money on the new Secretariat, did KCR start visiting it? The answer is no. The Vigilance Department also identified alleged large-scale irregularities not only in the construction of the Secretariat but also in the purchase of IT equipment. Although the Revanth Reddy government announced that action would be taken over these irregularities, this issue too appears to have been completely shelved, just like several other matters. Only those at the top of the government know what actually happened.
Putting that aside for a moment, one of the major reasons for the BRS's defeat in the last elections was KCR's lack of accessibility—not just to his ministers but also to the people. He faced severe criticism for running the government more like a king than a Chief Minister, operating largely from his farmhouse and Pragathi Bhavan. Even after losing the elections, KCR continues to follow the same style. Compared to the past, the number of days on which the Assembly meets has also reduced considerably. Yet KCR, the BRS chief and Leader of the Opposition, is not attending these Assembly sessions. As usual, he remains confined to his farmhouse. The ruling Congress party is now trying to turn this into a major political weapon. The Congress is accusing KCR of doing nothing for the people or even for the people of the constituency that elected him, despite receiving a government salary and enjoying security and other facilities. The party is also claiming that the government has spent ₹22 crore on the Leader of the Opposition over a period of 1,000 days.
Recently, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy strongly criticized KCR on the same issue during the inauguration of the Musarambagh Bridge. Demanding that KCR resign from his post as Leader of the Opposition for allegedly failing to perform his duties, the Congress party has announced a Maha Dharna at Indira Park on September 6. No matter how strongly BRS leaders KTR and Harish Rao defend KCR's absence from the Assembly, it is difficult to say that the public will accept their arguments. Politically, this is certainly an issue that could hurt the BRS. BRS leaders repeatedly claim that their party will return to power in the next elections. Even assuming that happens, the Congress is trying to strongly convey to the people that KCR would follow the same style of functioning even if the BRS comes back to power. Since KCR is following the same approach even as the Leader of the Opposition, this argument could easily connect with voters, as people may believe that there would be no change in his style of functioning even if he becomes Chief Minister again. At a time when Gen Z is becoming increasingly active in politics, some BRS leaders themselves are reportedly expressing the view that it will be difficult for the party to continue its politics in the same way it did when the Telangana sentiment was at its peak.
