The TRS spokespersons found themselves in a piquant position over the issue of KCR skipping the historic and biennial Medaram Jatara. KCR decision to cancel his visit to Medaram came at the last moment. The pilgrims were put to great inconvenience throughout the day due to the proposed visit of KCR. But, by evening, the announcement came that KCR would not come to Medaram. Due to this there was lot of disquiet among the devotees and there was a scramble for darshan leading to chaotic scenes.
At the political level, it was a loss of face for the TRS. The party was criticising the Central Government for not declaring the Medaram fete as a national event. Secondly, they also slammed Modi for not taking out time to attend the meeting. Now that KCR himself skipped the meeting, the TRS lost a weapon to attack the BJP.
Also, the TRS leaders are finding it difficult to defend KCR. Quite curiously, KCR, who did not have time for the Medaram Jatara, flew over to Mumbai and spend the whole day meeting anti-BJP leaders such as NCP chief Sharad Pawar and CM Uddhav Thackeray. The TRS leaders are finding it tough to explain how he could find time to visit Mumbai, while he had no time for Medaram.
Another interesting thing is KCR would not be able to visit Medaram in this term. If for some reason, his party does not return to power, he would go down as a CM who did not attend the Jatara a second time in his tenure. This would have a great sentimental bearing on the party and the CM, feel the TRS thinking heads.