Telangana Polls: KCR Aims For A Hat-Trick On Back Of Welfare Schemes. A Look At His Report Card

As the countdown to polling in the Telangana Assembly election starts, KCR is striving for a third term even as he faces his most stern electoral test to date.

Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao

Source : Facebook/@KCR

K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who has served as Telangana's Chief Minister for the past 10 years since the state's inception in 2014, has guided the state through a period of significant development and change. As the countdown to polling in the Telangana Assembly election starts, KCR is striving for a third term even as he faces his most stern electoral test to date.

Under the stewardship of KCR-led administration, Telangana has witnessed the successful completion of major irrigation projects, marking substantial progress in the state's infrastructure and agricultural landscape. The implementation of the Rythu Bandhu Scheme has further underscored the government's commitment to supporting the agricultural community, providing a solid foundation for KCR's electoral aspirations.

In its manifesto, KCR has focused on all major sectors to woo a voters across all communities. The 'pink party' has promised superfine rice through the Public Distribution System, monthly honorarium of Rs 3,000 for women, Rs 5 lakh insurance coverage to BPL families to increasing farmers' allowance from Rs 10,000 per year to Rs 16,000 in a staggered manner. All the poll promises will be implemented within six months of taking over office, said KCR.

KCR seeks to secure a hat-trick relying on the track record of his achievements and the promises outlined in the party's manifesto. However, he has also been facing criticism over perceived delays in fulfilling promises made during the previous election. Both the Congress and the BJP have seized the opportunity to meticulously outline the unmet commitments of the BRS-led government. 

Amid BRS' fight with "anti-incumbency", a comprehensive report card in assessing the Chief Minister's performance becomes essential, evaluating the commitments made, those successfully delivered, and the lingering agenda left unaddressed. This dynamic mix of achievements and unmet promises shapes the narrative of the upcoming elections, providing voters with a nuanced perspective as they weigh the pros and cons of the incumbent government's track record.

Achievements Of KCR Government

Since assuming power in 2014, the KCR-led government in Telangana has spearheaded the implementation of pivotal projects in the nascent state. With a dedicated focus on irrigation initiatives, notably the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, the government has worked tirelessly to ensure a sustainable water supply for agricultural and domestic needs, effectively addressing the longstanding challenge of water scarcity.

Telangana has not only witnessed infrastructural advancements but has also emerged as the state boasting the highest per capita income in the country. A significant stride in agricultural support includes the provision of round-the-clock free electricity to farmers, contributing to the state's impressive paddy production figures.

Before the 2018 elections, the party introduced transformative schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, and Kanti Velugu. Similarly, in the run-up to the 2023 polls, the government rolled out initiatives like Dalit Bandh, a breakfast scheme for students, and extended financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to economically disadvantaged individuals for housing construction. The enhancement of the Kanti Velugu program was also strategically implemented to resonate with voters.

In March, the state Cabinet approved a Rs 1 lakh crop loan waiver scheme besides providing Rs 3 lakh assistance to four lakh beneficiaries for the construction of 2 BHK houses on their independently owned housing sites under the "Gruha Lakshmi" banner.

Opposition Flags Unfulfilled Promises

While some of the promises have been fulfilled by KCR, the Opposition has criticised the government for not implementing unemployment allowance of Rs 3,016 for unemployed citizens. There have been complaints about the delay and partial implementation of the promised unemployment allowance for eligible unemployed youth in the state, leading to dissatisfaction among the young population.

People have flagged delays in the implementation of infrastructure projects like the steel factory in Bayyaram. Though the government initiated various infrastructure development projects, some of the projects have not been timely completed due to discrepancies in the execution of the project. 

On religious lines, BRS made several promises to Muslims but reportedly failed to implement them. KCR promised 12 per cent reservation to Muslims within the first four months of his party coming to power but till now the government has not promulgated any ordinance to increase Muslim reservation

During a rally, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi quoted multiple figures related to farmers in the state. She said that every day, three farmers in Telangana die by suicide, and that over the past nine years, 8,000 farmers have ended their lives. She claimed that 2.5 lakh farmers have a debt of 1.5 lakh each.

In this election run-up, Kaleshwaram project took center stage but for all the wrong reasons. During his visit, Rahul Gandhi taking to X said, “Kaleshwaram Project = KCR Family ATM I visited the Medigadda barrage, which is a part of the corruption-ridden Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme in Telangana." 

The Congress MP said, "Cracks have developed in multiple pillars because of shoddy construction with reports indicating that the pillars are sinking. KCR and his family are using the Kaleshwaram Project as their personal ATM to plunder the people of Telangana.”