Uncertainty in Telangana as Congress Takes the Lead
As Telangana faced its third assembly election, a crucial question arose – love for father or mother? This unprecedented question emerged as the state, which came into existence just nine and a half years ago, prepared for its electoral battle.
The formation of Telangana in 2014 marked a significant milestone in India’s political landscape. After decades of struggle and popular unrest over the underdevelopment of the region, Telangana emerged as the twenty-ninth state of the country, following the division of Andhra Pradesh. The credit for this historic achievement goes to the then Congress government at the Center and Kalvakuntala Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), the founder and president of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (now Bharat Rashtra Samiti), who spearheaded the movement since 2009. KCR’s leadership led the TRS to victory in the first two assembly elections, establishing him as the hero of Telangana and securing his position as Chief Minister for two consecutive terms. However, the latest elections marked a shift as the Congress gained momentum, with new strategies amplifying its presence.
Despite KCR’s influential role in the state’s formation, the Congress strategically emphasized its contribution, highlighting Sonia Gandhi’s leadership as the party president during the pivotal period when Telangana became a reality. This narrative sought to position Sonia Gandhi as the “mother of Telangana,” countering KCR’s portrayal as the “father of the state.” The Congress’s initiative gained further significance as Sonia Gandhi personally campaigned in Telangana, distinguishing it from her absence in other states that held assembly elections concurrently.
The resonance of the Congress’s message was evident as the people of Telangana aligned themselves with the party, recognizing the pivotal role played by the Congress and Sonia Gandhi in the state’s formation. As Congress’s influence grew, the dynamics of Telangana’s political landscape underwent a remarkable transformation, signaling a shift in the state’s allegiance.
Hyderabad ∙ Love for father or mother? Perhaps this is a question that has never been raised in any election before. The question that rang in the minds of the people when Telangana, the twenty-ninth state of the country, which was formed nine and a half years ago, faced the third assembly election.
The state of Telangana became a reality on June 2, 2014 through the division of Andhra Pradesh and after decades of struggle following heated popular anger over the backwardness of the Telangana region, which was part of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The credit for the formation of the state goes equally to the then Congress at the Center and Kalvakuntala Chandrasekhar Rao, alias KCR, the founder and president of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (now Bharat Rashtra Samiti), who revived the agitation since 2009. But the Telangana Rashtra Samithi won the first two assembly elections in the state. Hailed as the hero of Telangana, Chandrasekhar Rao became Chief Minister for two consecutive terms. But this time Telangana took the hand of Congress.
Chandrashekhar Rao, who came third this time, saw the Congress fill the field with new strategies. Throughout the campaign, the leaders took special care to highlight the role of the Congress and Sonia Gandhi in the formation of the state. While the BRS has described Chandrashekhar Rao as the father of the state, the Congress also intensified its campaign by arguing that the Telangana state was brought about by the Congress government ruling at the Center while Sonia Gandhi was the party president and that Sonia Gandhi was the mother of Telangana.
It is no coincidence that Telangana is the only state where Sonia came to campaign in the five states that held assembly elections last November and that the party’s state president, Revanth Reddy announced on December 9 during the campaign that the ruling Congress government will take oath. Sonia Gandhi’s birthday is December 9.
Realizing that the Telangana sentiment was strong in the state, the Congress was prompted to campaign by highlighting the formation of the Telangana state and the role of the Congress and Sonia Gandhi in it. The decision of the people of Telangana to join the Congress was also a recognition of the then Congress government and Sonia Gandhi who allowed the formation of the state.
English Summary:
Why KCR and BRS Lost Telangana?
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