Hyderabad: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrashekhara Rao is now a cult figure across Telangana, India's 29th state. For him, it has been a long journey. KCR who started his political career in the youth Congress under the leadership of late Sanjay Gandhi, later became a top leader of the TDP and won four consecutive Assembly elections on the TDP ticket between 1985 and 1999.
He parted ways with the TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in 2000 and floated his party TRS to fight for Telangana, a year later.
KCR has always been a gambler, who loves taking risks. This time, he has taken a big risk by refusing to merge or align his party with the Congress. His party is contesting on its own in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
The people those who know him quiet well say that he is extremely shrewd and takes calculated risks. KCR joined the TDP in 1983 after N T Ramarao floated the party and contested in the 1983 Assembly election from Siddipet in Medak district; he lost, but, he won four elections from the same seat between 1985 and 1999. It is also a fact that KCR has not lost any election since 1985.
He has won every election since then- be it an Assembly or a Lok Sabha election.
KCR has successfully taken on all formidable leaders in AP, be it N Chandrababu Naidu or Y S Rajashekhara Reddy. He emerged victorious on most occasions.
Political observers in Hyderabad say that KCR is a great survivor and a master strategist. He knows which way the wind is blowing.
After the Parliament created a separate state of Telangana, KCR's popularity has reached its peak in Telangana, making him a cult figure. His supporters feel that the grateful populace of Telangana will vote for KCR's party in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
The TRS is not organizationally strong like the Congress or the TDP in Telangana. It is very strong in Karimnagar and Warangal districts. It has a good following in Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad districts. It has a marginal presence in Rangareddy and Greater Hyderabad comprising Hyderabad and Secundarabad. It is weak in Khammam, Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar districts.
In its strongholds, the TRS has 55 Assembly seats and 7 Lok Sabha seats. In 61 Assembly seats and eight Lok Sabha seats, the TRS is not strong.
That's why many argue that KCR has taken a huge risk by deciding to go solo in the elections. It is not that KCR is not aware of it. A clever politician KCR is fully aware of it. He knows both his strengths and weaknesses. But, he wants to take a big risk and see if it works for him one last time.
He is hoping that the TRS will win minimum 50 Assembly seats and five Lok Sabha seats on its own even in a worse scenario. With the help of Owaisi brothers MIM and the Communists, he can cross the halfway mark of 60 seats. If that happens, he will most likely become the first chief minister of Telangana state. Even though he has been saying that he is not interested in the CM post, finally he will accept that. Showing no interest in power has also been a part of KCR's strategy for a long time.
According to insiders, KCR may join any alliance that comes to power at the Centre. Since Telangana has a substantial number of Muslim population, he is staying away from joining hands with the BJP.
It may help the BJP-TDP alliance in Telangana to win a dozen seats.
KCR's gamble may pay off this time. Even it does not, he has already cemented his position as the chief architect of Telangana state and has secured a prime position in its history.
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