The upcoming presidential elections are going to test the political sagacity and cleverness of Telangana chief minister and TRS chief KCR. What will be his stand and how will he play his cards int the presidential elections, remains the crucial question. His moves for the last year and a half for bringing together anti-BJP parties will be evaluated on the basis of his decision during the presidential elections.
Will KCR back the Congress candidate? Highly unlikely, say political watchers. That would give the Telangana BJP a stick to beat the TRS. It can always claim that the TRS and the Congress were hand-in-glove. Hence, KCR is unlikely to back the Congress nominee. Then comes the question as to whether pro-Congress regional parties like the Shiv Sena, Janata Dal secular and the DMK would stand by him if he does not support the Congress candidate.
So, the question is whether the non-Congress and the non-BJP parties put up a third candidate in the elections. If so, which are the parties that would support the third candidate? What will the AAP do in Delhi and Punjab and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal? If KCR supports the BJP candidate either directly or indirectly, he would be thoroughly exposed at the national level.
Political watchers also say that KCR would only end up helping the BJP if he puts up a third candidate. This will ensure the splitting of the non-BJP votes and will help the BJP post a facile win. Thus, the decision that KCR will take will decide his future role in the national politics.