BRS Set to Return as TRS to Regain Lost Ground; KTR Announces State-Wide Padayatra
BRS may revert to TRS name, says KTR
Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday said the party would go back to its old name of TRS, but the final decision would be taken by party chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Rama Rao also said he would go on a state-wide padayatra next year to reconnect with the people, highlight their problems and also strengthen the organisation in time for the next Assembly elections.
"The TRS by becoming the BRS, in an effort to reach out to more states, distanced itself from the people of Telangana and this proved costly. A gap developed between the party and the people during its decade in power,” Rama Rao said while speaking to mediapersons during a visit to Mancherial.
He said the party had suffered in its BRS avatar and lost power. “Though we intend to revert and stay like the TRS, the final word is left to party chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao. My role as working president is only to implement his decision."
The decision to go back to the old name appeared to come against the backdrop of BRS former leader and rebel K. Kavitha announcing the launch of her new party later this month. There is apprehension that she could, at the last minute opt, for the TRS name, or a similar sounding one, though by all indications she would go with the name of Telangana Praja Jagruthi as per a submission made by her side in court.
Rama Rao said that it was unbecoming on the part of an individual (Kavitha) to make family members to weep. “Even if they don't do good, they must not make their parents weep,” Rama Rao said.
Rama Rao also applauded Telugu Desam supremo and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for bouncing back after defeat and regaining power. “The TD always mingled with the people and continuously maintained good contacts,” Rama Rao said. “The TD leadership always maintained strong ties with the grassroot workers and the people.”
Rama Rao said that alliances had not worked well for the BRS and announced that the party would go solo in the coming elections. He specifically said that there would be no alliance with the BJP.
On delimitation, Rama Rao said the proposed increase in the number of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies would create new political opportunities. He maintained that if the current proportional representation with regard to population was retained, there would be no objection. "If all states receive a uniform increase in seats without reducing the existing share, there is no reason for concern," he observed.