Voters in Telangana, once strong supporters of K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR), voiced their dissatisfaction in the recent assembly polls, leading to a significant defeat for his party, Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS). Disillusionment stemmed from partially implemented welfare schemes, with many residents finding little to no benefit from the initiatives. Issues such as the Dalit Bandhu scheme, where bribes were allegedly demanded, and the Rythu Bandhu scheme, which favored the rich, highlighted the ineffectiveness of KCR’s promises. His overconfidence led him to ignore the misdeeds of MLAs, who exploited government schemes for personal gain, further alienating voters.
The 2BHK housing scheme, launched with much fanfare, failed to meet expectations due to nepotism and favoritism in distribution. Additionally, the government’s mishandling of the pandemic and failure to address unemployment aggravated public discontent. KCR’s perceived inaccessibility and concentration of power within his family added to the frustration, with accusations of land-grabbing and arrogance further alienating voters. KCR’s one notable success was managing Hindu-Muslim relations, which maintained communal harmony, but this alone was insufficient to secure electoral success.
KCR’s leadership style, reminiscent of a feudal lord, and his withdrawal from public engagement painted a negative image. Many felt that the benefits of Telangana’s formation were limited to KCR’s family. The combination of unfulfilled promises, ineffective governance, and nepotism ultimately led to KCR’s electoral downfall, reflecting the voters’ demand for change.
