KCR 3.0 Beckons

People want KCR back-reconnected, rejuvenated and ready to deliver KCR 3.0 Points to Ponder

■   The coterie that distanced old agitation-era associates must go; those who stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the movement should be brought closer.

■   KCR should prioritise the U.T. Batch—the original Telangana agitation loyalists—over later B.T. batches

■   Work with medical advisories, ensure he leads with full energy for years to come

■   Renew ties with Telangana contractors, local businesspeople, small enterprises, and employees who supported the party in its early days give due importance

■   BC, SC, ST, Women should be given more posts

■   Pending issues of agitation-era families—especially those who lost kith and kin—must be addressed with compassion.

■   More posts and opportunities for SC, ST, BC communities, aligning with BRS’s inclusive ethos.

■   Implement ease of doing business in true letter and spirit

■   KCR should redraw a fresh blueprint for Telangana pride: accelerated focus on water resources, employment generation, and ease of doing business.

C L Rajam :

On this joyous 25th foundation day of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (formerly Telangana Rashtra Samithi), founded on April 27, 2001, by none other than K. Chandrashekar Rao, the entire Telangana proudly salutes its Supremo. KCR, the architect of statehood, led a relentless decade-long battle that turned a long-cherished dream into reality on June 2, 2014.

No one can dispute his stellar role—or that of the BRS—in making Telangana a vibrant, self-reliant state. He remains the undisputed icon and living symbol of Telangana pride. The people of Telangana rewarded him with resounding mandates: first as the inaugural Chief Minister in 2014 (63 assembly seats) and then a thumping second term in 2018 (88 seats), affirming his leadership in both assembly and parliamentary polls.

Over his nearly decade-long tenure (2014–2023), KCR transformed a newly formed state into an economic powerhouse and agricultural trailblazer. Facts and statistics bear testimony to this golden era. Telangana’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) surged from Rs 5.05 lakh crore in 2014-15 to over Rs 12.93 lakh crore by 2022-23, more than doubling in eight years and registering one of India’s highest average annual growth rates of 12.6–13.2 per cent—peaking at 17.24 per cent between 2014 and 2019.

Per capita income soared from Rs 1.12 lakh in 2013-14 to Rs 3.17 lakh by 2022-23 (reaching nearly Rs 3.47 lakh in recent estimates), placing Telangana among the top states nationally. Every single district now boasts per capita income higher than the national average.

Agriculture, the backbone of Telangana, witnessed a revolution. Food grain production increased nearly 350 per cent (four fold), with the state becoming the country’s second-largest paddy producer. Cultivated area expanded dramatically from 1.31 crore acres in 2014 to over 2.2 crore acres by 2023—an addition of 89 lakh acres. Irrigation coverage reached an impressive 84 per cent. The Rythu Bandhu scheme provided direct investment support to lakhs of farmers, while 24×7 free power to agriculture became a national model.

Mission Bhagiratha ensured piped drinking water to every household. IT exports skyrocketed 350 per cent from Rs 57,000 crore to Rs 2.57 lakh crore, creating lakhs of jobs. Green cover rose by 7.7 per cent. Over 1.33 lakh government vacancies were filled, and the state contributed nearly 5 per cent of national job creation despite having just 2.9 per cent of India’s population.

These were not mere statistics—they were the fruits of decisive, people-centric governance that revived rural economies, empowered women through schemes like Kalyana Lakshmi and Aasara pensions, and positioned Hyderabad as a global IT and pharma hub. KCR Garu’s administration proved that a young state could outpace older ones through focused welfare and development.

But still, in the 2023 assembly elections, BRS secured 39 seats while Congress won 64, ending KCR ’s second term. Various factors contributed—anti-incumbency, shifting voter sentiments, and campaign narratives. But this defeat should not be seen as a setback but as a golden opportunity for introspection and renewal. With assembly elections due in 2028, the people of Telangana are eagerly awaiting KCR 3.0—a reinvigorated leader ready to reclaim the mantle with renewed vigour, wisdom, and the same fire that birthed the state.

Majority of Telanganites still believe KCR Garu is the best bet to lead the state forward. They want him to reinvent himself, drawing from his vast experience as a great administrator, orator par excellence, and visionary statesman. Here is what the people’s expectations reflect—a roadmap rooted in love and loyalty:

People desire greater accessibility to the cadre and grassroots workers. The coterie that sometimes distanced old associates from the agitation days must be dismantled; instead, honest, dedicated voices who stood shoulder-to-shoulder during the movement should be brought closer. KCR should prioritise the U.T. Batch—the original Telangana agitation loyalists—over later B.T. batches, and reinforcing this will reignite the party’s foundational spirit.

His health remains paramount. Taking care of himself while working within medical advisories will ensure he leads with full energy for years to come—a wish every well-wisher echoes.

Telangana contractors, local businesspeople, small enterprises, and employees who supported the party in its early days deserve renewed importance. Pending issues of agitation-era families—especially those who lost kith and kin—must be addressed with compassion. More posts and opportunities for SC, ST, BC communities, and women will strengthen social justice, aligning with BRS’s inclusive ethos.

Crucially, KCR should redraw a fresh blueprint for Telangana pride: accelerated focus on water resources, employment generation, and ease of doing business. A clear overall plan and direction for state progress—one that rises above petty politics—will inspire the youth and position Telangana as a national model once again. While close relatives working selflessly for the party deserve their due, sufficient importance must go to dedicated outsiders too. When people see the “old KCR”—the accessible, decisive, people-first leader—they will rally en masse.

KCR possesses unparalleled knowledge and experience. This is the moment to channel it into a transformative vision for the state and, indeed, the country. The BRS’s 25-year journey is a testament to resilience. From a single-point agenda of statehood to building a prosperous Telangana, the party has evolved under his stewardship.

As elections loom in 2029, there is palpable excitement. The people have spoken through their expectations: they want their KCR back—reconnected, rejuvenated, and ready to deliver KCR 3.0. With his trademark determination, he can once again make Telangana the envy of the nation—abundant in water, brimming with jobs, and radiating pride.

On this milestone foundation day, heartfelt congratulations once more, KCR.

Jai Telangana