The YSR Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samithi alliance has become quite the talk in political circles of both the states. Ever since YSRCP President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and TRS Working President KT Rama Rao’s joint press address, the rumour mills have been working overtime. While KTR and TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao have openly endorsed Jagan’s candidature as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, one person who has not had any share of his say in the whole episode is KCR’s nephew and senior leader Harish Rao.
Known for enjoying huge popularity among voters, Harish Rao has been sidelined by the TRS party after the Telangana Assembly elections. He has also not been given any ministry in KCR’s cabinet while there have been messages that he would be included during Cabinet expansion post Lok Sabha polls. However, Harish Rao’s supporters have not been quiet about him being sidelined by KCR. They have time and again expressed their displeasure over TRS leadership’s ignorance of Harish Rao.
Amidst the din and noise of AP elections, Harish Rao was also one of the few people from TRS who was opposed to Special Status to Andhra Pradesh. Even with respect to Polavaram, he had made statements against the Andhra Pradesh government and its people publicly. Now, with so much happening in Andhra Pradesh assembly elections and KCR suddenly supporting special status for AP, Harish Rao still hasn’t spoken a word on the neighbouring state or TDP Chief.
Many in the political circles are questioning as to why he has fallen silent at a time when TRS is going full throttle against the TDP in Telangana. This also raises several questions about how KCR has been unjust to Harish Rao and has been trying to elevate his son and daughter, as rumours confirm. Will this be another cause of concern for the TRS? Will Harish Rao’s silence cost the party even as it continues to ignore his presence? We will know the answer after May 23rd.