Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) President K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) has been elected as the BRS Legislature Party leader, paving the way for him to assume the role of Leader of the Opposition in Telangana. The decision was made during the BRS Legislature Party meeting on Saturday, where 39 BRS MLAs were in attendance.
KCR, currently recovering from hip bone surgery after a fall at his farmhouse on Friday, along with his son K T Rama Rao, was not present at the meeting held at the party headquarters in Hyderabad. Despite being advised to rest for several months, KCR’s election as the BRSLP leader positions him as the Leader of the Opposition in the Telangana Assembly.
The meeting, chaired by BRS Parliamentary Party leader K Keshav Rao, witnessed the proposal of KCR’s name by former Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, with support from former ministers T Srinivas Yadav and Kadiam Srihari. KCR, who secured victory for the third time from Gajwel but faced defeat in the Kamareddy constituency, is expected to play a key role in the Opposition.
The election of KCR as the BRSLP leader puts an end to speculations about the potential elevation of K T Rama Rao (KTR) or KCR’s nephew T Harish Rao to the position. KTR, expressing regret for not attending the meeting due to his father’s medical condition, posted on social media, “Have sought another date from the Assembly secretary for taking the oath along with 4-5 other MLAs who have also not been able to attend today.”
Meanwhile, former finance minister T Harish Rao took the oath during the first session of the third Telangana Assembly. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka were among the first to take the oath. Following his oath, Harish Rao questioned the incumbent Congress government about the delay in disbursing the promised farm investment support.
“The Rabi season has started. When will the Congress government deposit the Rs 15,000 per acre per farmer it had promised during the election campaign? They said they would start from today but it has not started,” he remarked.
In the state Assembly elections held on November 30, the BRS, vying for a third term, secured 39 seats, falling short to the Congress, which won 64 seats. As KCR takes on the role of the Leader of the Opposition, the political landscape in Telangana is set for a new chapter.
