Jagan and KCR’s battle:
K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy joined forces in 2019 united by a common adversary, Chandrababu Naidu. KCR, the then Chief Minister of Telangana, supported Jagan in his bid to become the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. This alliance seemed strategic, as both leaders aimed to diminish Chandrababu Naidu’s influence.
After Jagan came to power, he expressed his gratitude by returning the Secretariat buildings to Telangana and shelving bifurcation issues. This period of cooperation, however, faced significant challenges as both leaders struggled to maintain their positions and deal with growing political complexities.
The arrest of Chandrababu Naidu by Jagan proved to be a costly mistake. The backlash from this move was swift, contributing to Jagan’s defeat in the latest elections. Similarly, KCR faced criticism for his insensitive handling of issues following Naidu’s arrest which also led to his political decline.
In response to their setbacks, CBN quickly engaged in talks with Revanth Reddy, the new Chief Minister of Telangana. This move indicated Naidu’s resilience and strategic foresight, aiming to build new alliances and strengthen his position.
Meanwhile, the BRS (Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi) is attempting to revive the Telangana sentiment by organizing a welcome rally for Naidu in Hyderabad. Despite heavy rain, the rally succeeded, painting the city yellow and reinforcing Naidu’s influence. However, the BRS’s attempt to portray Revanth Reddy as an enabler of anti-Telangana forces seemed hypocritical. The BRS, having expanded its political activities beyond Telangana, now faces criticism for opposing others’ entry into the state’s politics.
On the other hand, Jagan Mohan Reddy appears directionless after his recent electoral defeat. The YSR Congress is reverting to old tactics, spreading misinformation about Amaravati and trying to create divisions among the people. They label the capital as a “Caste Capital” and a “Real Estate Project” to incite controversy. However, these outdated strategies have lost their impact. People have witnessed Jagan’s attempts to undermine Amaravati, from demolishing the Praja Vedhika to neglecting constructed buildings. As a result, even potential beneficiaries in Visakhapatnam rejected Jagan’s leadership.
So, both the BRS and YSR Congress seem to lack innovative ideas and strategies. Unless they adapt and devise new approaches, their current political crises will only deepen, exacerbating their struggles and threatening their future relevance.
