In preparation for the 2024 elections, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao introduced the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), a new iteration of his party, at the deemed “auspicious moment” of 1.19 pm today.
Following a meeting of his party, Mr. Rao proclaimed that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is now the BRS. Workers rejoiced by lighting fireworks and dousing Hyderabad in the pink colour of the festival.
The Election Commission, which has guidelines for recognising any party as national, was informed of the “name-change.”
The new party must either be recognised as a state party in at least four states or have received 6% of the vote in any four states and four Lok Sabha seats in order to be considered a national organisation. Alternatively, the party needs to win 2% of the Lok Sabha’s (11 seats) in at least three states.
The TRS currently solely controls Telangana, where it is very powerful.
Mr. Rao has stated his intention to run against the BJP and the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024. He has significantly increased his criticism against the BJP in the last year, boycotting PM Modi’s events and even failing to meet him at the airport when he pays visits.
Mr. Rao, also known as KCR, met with a number of political figures in the run-up to his relaunch, including his equivalents in other states: Mamata Banerjee of Bengal, Nitish Kumar of Bihar, Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi, MK Stalin of Tamil Nadu, Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala, and Naveen Patnaik of Odisha (Odisha).
DMK ally Thol Thirumavalavan and former chief minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy were present at the inaugural celebration today.
However, KCR claims that he is not attempting to unite regional parties in a federal front like he did in 2018. He claims he would rather propose a different political, development, and welfare agenda to the populace. KCR has therefore contacted trade unions, civil society organisations, and organisations representing farmers in an effort to form an alliance that would represent the goals of many societal groups.
“KCR will act as the bridge to unite the various parties on one platform.
Instead of becoming PM, his goal is to introduce a new development model “KR Suresh Reddy, a TRS member, told NDTV. He refuted claims that KCR’s party may ultimately aid the BJP by splitting support from the opposition.
“It is incorrect to assert that BRS will covertly support the BJP. KCR appeals to a wide audience, “Reddy stated.
According to KCR’s party officials, he intends to exhibit what he calls the Telangana model to the rest of the nation with the pledge to emulate the welfare programmes, development initiatives, and policies of his government.
On December 9, the day the then-Congress administration at the federal level established a separate Telangana state in 2009, KCR planned to attend a rally in Delhi.
The newly renamed party could shortly contest its first election in Telangana’s Munugode byelection, which is anticipated on November 4. However, as the Election Commission’s support is not expected for some time, that election will still need to be fought under the name TRS.
Additionally, the party is anticipated to run in the assembly elections in Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
The BRS intends to keep its pink colour and election symbol, an automobile, but it is still a long way from becoming a recognised national party.
KCR has instructed party leaders to travel to several states to discuss the welfare programmes implemented in Telangana over the past eight years in order to increase the party’s political power. He reportedly purchased a 12-seater aircraft for his planned long tour.
