Hyderabad: With Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao eyeing a key role in national politics in the post-poll scenario, his son K T Rama Rao appears set to take over the mantle. Buoyed by the massive victory in the recent Assembly elections and confident of a clean sweep in the next month’s LS poll in the state, the TRS hopes to play a pivotal role in formation of next government at the Centre.
Ever since he floated the idea of Federal Front as an alternative to both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress a year ago, KCR never tried to hide his prime ministerial ambitions, saying he will not shy away from discharging his responsibility. TRS leaders expect the regional parties will win 100-120 seats and as the leader of this new formation, KCR, shift to the national capital to play his role.
Going by the way he groomed his son K T Rama Rao over the last five years, it left nobody in doubt that KCR will hand over the mantle to him. After the TRS retained power with the landslide victory, KCR made Rama Rao the Working President of party so that he can focus on the national politics.
There have been other indications as well. KCR, who took over the as the Chief Minister for a second term on December 13, 2018, has not inducted KTR into his cabinet. He has also not allocated key portfolios, including finance, industry, information technology and urban development.
Political analysts say this could be aimed at giving free hand to KTR in picking his team as and when he takes over. KTR, however, on many occasions has dismissed the talk of his taking over as the CM. He always remarked that KCR is fit enough to serve the state for another three terms.
Ever since TRS formed first govt in India’s youngest state in 2014, KTR had emerged as the number two both in the govt and the party and came to be seen as KCR’s heir-apparent. Suave, soft-spoken and dynamic, KTR hogged the limelight at most of the events as KCR virtually shunned public appearances, focussing on post-bifurcation, governance and party issues.
As minister for IT, industry and urban development, the US educated leader with IT background developed good rapport with the IT honchos and industrialists and played a key role in attracting the global investments. —Agencies
