The outcome of Lok Sabha elections in Telangana was a major setback for Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who expected to play a major role in the national politics by winning 16 MP seats.
When the TRS ended up with just nine MP seats, KCR has realised that he cannot take the people for granted with his monarchical rule.
The TRS chief thought people would vote for anybody who is fielded from any constituency. Such was the arrogance of KCR that he even cancelled public meeting at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad as the people did not turn up in good numbers.
What is worse, KCR relied on defectors like Talasani Srinivasa Yadav, Danam Nagender and Malla Reddy and sidelined senior leaders like his nephew T Harish Rao, former deputy chief minister Kadiyam Srihari and many others.
In fact, Harish Rao’s name was not included in the star campaigners’ list initially but later, he was confined to only Medak parliamentary constituency and Srihari was confined to Warangal.
But all those on whom he relied had failed him, while Harish and Srihari proved their mettle. In both Medak and Warangal, by ensuring victory of the TRS candidates with huge margins.
Now, KCR seems to have realised the importance of Harish and Srihari and the mistake in sidelining them.
Party sources said there is no surprise if both of them are taken back into the state cabinet and given prominent postings.
After a long gap, Harish Rao came to KCR’s residence on Friday and discussed the results of Lok Sabha elections.
It has led to the talk that KCR is trying to take Harish Rao into confidence again and restore his importance in the party.
