Is KCR Holding On Idea Of The National Party?

TRS chief KCR is said to be taking measured steps in launching a new national-level party. KCR is holding talks with like-minded parties to announce the launch of a national party and is closely observing the ground situation in Telangana.

According to sources, KCR has frequently interacted with some party leaders and hired some survey agencies. He also consults closely with his political strategist.

For KCR, party leaders say, winning the Assembly elections for 3rd consecutive term is as important as launching a national party, if not more. But he does not want to do anything in a tearing hurry and make wrong moves.

Unlike during the past 2 elections, the party feels it will have to put in more efforts to win the Assembly elections as, on the one hand, the anti-incumbency factor is growing, and on the other, the opposition parties, BJP and Congress, are trying to make inroads into the TRS bastions.

The BJP is set to hold its National Executive in Hyderabad, and the Congress has gained some ground in districts like Nalgonda and Khammam. Added to this problem, TRS is facing internal squabbles in some districts.

Initially, it was felt that KCR might launch the national party towards 2nd half of July. But now, the TRS supremo wants to ensure that the pink party was back in the driver's seat even if there was some fall in the majority. This being the situation, the need to focus on strategies to retain power in the state becomes more important than venturing into national politics, at least for the present, party leaders feel.

On the other hand, the announcement of the Union Government to introduce the Agnipath scheme and how the Congress party is trying to convert it into an election issue is also causing worry to TRS. In the backdrop of this situation, leaders said that KCR might consider putting his plans to launch a national party on hold.