Telangana Elections 2023: From playing a crucial part in the formation of the state of Telangana to now eyeing an expansion of its national footprint, Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and his party has come a long way. KCR has been the CM since the state came into existence in 2014 and is rooting for another term amid strong opposition from Congress and a fair share of fight from the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
BRS has been able to strengthen its hold across the state, with leaders reaching out to people and legislators pulling attention over various schemes their party launched in 2018 and the ones it plans to implement and promised in the 2023 manifesto.
In 2018, KCR promised to increase the retirement age of government employees from 58 to 61, which he did. The CM also announced the construction of 2 BHK houses for eligible poor families, while those who have plots but no money to construct a house would be given financial assistance of Rs 5-6 lakh. The continued and last month, the state government allotted a total of 11,700 2BHK housing units to the beneficiaries in 24 Assembly Constituencies.
According to the manifesto, the old-age pensions would be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,016 per month and that of the differently-abled from Rs 1500 to Rs 3,106. The age limit for the eligibility for old pensions will be reduced from 65 to 57 years.
BRS’ 2023 Poll Promises
Some of the promises are linked to the ongoing schemes and its extension like the enhancement of the Rythu Bandhu scheme to Rs 16,000 a year from existing Rs 10,000, CM KCR said.
The party has announced Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance for women, gas cylinders at Rs 400, housing for all and Rs 5,000 pension for the elderly and destitute. CM KCR also promised an increase in the amount of social security pension for Divyang people to up to Rs 6,000. The manifesto further promised Rs 15 lakh health cover for all eligible voters.
BRS' Troubles: Rift Within And Strengthening Congress’ Morale
While BJP is also in the fray and it did perform well in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which took place months after the 2018 assembly elections, the saffron party is not much of a challenge to BRS. The real hurdle is Congress and its six guarantees for Telangana which got a boost by the party’s win in Karnataka earlier this year. The guarantees focus on pensions for the elderly, health coverage, cheaper gas cylinders and free electricity up to 200 units among others.
Apart from this, the anti-incumbency factor at certain seats due to infighting can also play spoilsport for the BRS. Several leaders of the party have joined Congress ahead of the elections and have been awarded by the Congress. The grand old party has fielded rebel BRS MLA Mynampally Hanumantha Rao Malkajgiri and his son Rohith from Medak. Former minister Jupally Krishna Rao, who was suspended by the BRS for anti-party activities, got a ticket from Kollapur.
Furthermore, allegations of 'family rule' against Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and corruption charges against his daughter, K Kavitha, are likely to become some of the other key issues in the polls.
What Opinion Poll Says
According to the CVoter opinion poll, it is a tough contest between Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Congress. The BRS can secure 43 to 55 seats, while the Congress is expected to win 48 to 60 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading its campaign, is projected to win only 5 to 11 seats.
In the elections held in 2018, BRS won 88 seats out of 119 and emerged as the single-largest party while Congress was a distant second with 19. BJP, which contested on 117 constituencies, won only one.