BRS President and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao embarked on a sudden and significant journey to Maharashtra on Monday, leading a massive convoy of over 600 cars.
Accompanying him were ministers, BRS MLAs, MLCs, MPs, zilla parishad chairpersons, chairpersons of various corporations, and more, totaling over 2,000 individuals.
KCR's convoy resembled a 'dandayatra' (a military-like expedition) aimed at conquering Maharashtra. He is expected to return to Hyderabad on Tuesday.
The question arises: why did KCR organize such a sudden dandayatra to Maharashtra for two days?
Political analysts perceive 'revenge politics' as the driving force behind KCR's tour to Maharashtra.
They suggest that KCR received clear indications that the Congress is likely to come to power in Telangana in the Assembly polls scheduled for December 2023. In response, he aims to seek revenge on the Congress in Maharashtra for defeating him in Telangana.
Maharashtra is scheduled to hold Assembly polls in October 2024, providing a ten-month gap after the Telangana Assembly polls.
During this interval, KCR intends to expand the BRS to as many constituencies in Maharashtra as possible, thereby undermining the prospects of the Congress-Shivsena (UBT)-NCP alliance by splitting anti-establishment votes.
Currently, Maharashtra is governed by the BJP-Shivsena (Ekanth Shinde) alliance, and KCR aims to ensure their victory with the assistance of the BRS.
Several former and current BRS leaders are also planning to join the Congress in Telangana soon, following the Congress' strengthened position after the Karnataka Assembly polls.
Anti-incumbency sentiments against the BRS and KCR are growing in Telangana, and surveys suggest that KCR has no chance of becoming Chief Minister for a third time.
Realizing that the Congress is likely to defeat the BRS in Telangana, KCR seeks revenge by ensuring the Congress' defeat in Maharashtra.
Since transforming the TRS into the BRS in October 2022 and proclaiming it a national party expanding to all states, why is KCR solely focused on Maharashtra?
He has already visited Maharashtra five times since February this year and addressed five public meetings.
Political analysts argue that this indicates KCR's desire to take revenge on the Congress in Maharashtra in 2024 for their victory over him in Telangana in 2023.
