Telangana Congress Witnesses Impressive Revival with Remarkable Turnaround

The Congress Party’s resurgence in Telangana is the highlight of the state elections, regardless of the final outcome. Just a few months ago, the Congress was struggling for survival in the state, but now it is giving a tough fight to K Chandrasekhar Rao’s well-organized election machinery. Meanwhile, the BJP, which was once seen as the main rival to the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has slipped to third place. The battle in Telangana is now finely balanced, and the Congress has the potential to cause an upset if it can maintain its momentum.

Before the division of Andhra Pradesh, the Congress stronghold played a significant role in the party’s success at the national level in 2004 and 2009. However, the party’s downfall began after the untimely demise of Congress veteran YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the influential leader of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Subsequent short-sighted politics by the party further weakened its position in both Andhra and Telangana. It was widely believed that the Congress would not be able to regain its previous glory, and the BJP would replace it in Telangana. The BJP made significant gains in the 2019 parliamentary elections, winning four Lok Sabha seats with 19.65% of the votes. Although the Congress secured 29.79% of the votes, it won one seat less than the BJP. The BJP’s aggressive campaign in the Hyderabad municipal election indicated its intention to challenge the Congress in the state. This move was seen as part of a long-term strategy devised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Historically, the BJP has struggled to make inroads into South India, with Karnataka being the only exception. Despite its success in parliamentary elections since 2004, the BJP has never been able to form a government on its own in the southern states. Telangana was seen as a potential breakthrough for the BJP, but its recent decline can be attributed to its own missteps. The removal of Bandi Sanjay as the state BJP president just before the assembly elections, along with the perceived leniency towards KCR’s daughter K Kavitha by the Enforcement Directorate, created the impression of a tacit understanding between KCR and the BJP leadership. Modi’s statement that KCR had approached him for a spot in the NDA coalition further fueled this perception. The Congress was quick to capitalize on this opportunity and projected itself as the alternative to both the BRS and the BJP. With the aggressive campaigning led by young leader Revanth Reddy, the Congress successfully tapped into the discontentment against the KCR government.

There were other factors that worked in favor of the Congress as well. Rahul Gandhi’s “Bharat Jodo Yatra” (Unite India March) was a breakthrough moment for the party. The unexpected turnout at the Yatra indicated that Rahul Gandhi was seen as a new leader who was unafraid of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP’s divisive politics. He openly criticized KCR for corruption and hinted at his alleged ties with the BJP. This resonated with the Muslim community, who saw Rahul Gandhi as a viable anti-BJP and anti-RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) option. Asaduddin Owaisi, who was previously considered the voice of Muslim grievances, also faced criticism from the Congress. There has always been speculation that Owaisi’s politics benefits the BJP by polarizing Hindu voters, and he has been accused of acting at the BJP’s behest. Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra provided an alternative for Muslims who believed that only the Congress could effectively counter the BJP on a national level. The support of the Muslim community, which makes up 12.75% of the population, has become a major talking point in the Telangana election and has rattled both Owaisi and KCR.

The Congress’ remarkable victory in Karnataka also had an impact on Telangana voters. The margin of victory in Karnataka boosted the morale of Congress supporters, showing them that the party had the potential to challenge the KCR-led BRS. It dispelled the notion that the Congress loses its fighting spirit after losing a state to a regional party. People started believing that if the Congress could defeat the BJP in a neighboring state, it could potentially repeat the feat in Telangana. It is no coincidence that Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra received a tremendous response in both states.

The appointment of Revanth Reddy as the Congress chief in Telangana was another positive move for the party. As a young leader, he was willing to confront KCR on every issue, bringing the Congress to the forefront of opposition politics. While Owaisi’s party formed an alliance with the BRS and the BJP appeared to be soft-pedaling, Revanth Reddy’s aggressive stance helped the Congress regain its position as the main opposition party in Telangana.

KCR’s decision to rename his party was a major mistake. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which was synonymous with Telangana sub-nationalism and pride, lost its unique identity and connection with the people when it became the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). With this change, the party forfeited its claim to solely represent Telangana and uphold its rich traditions and culture. It became just another party competing for power.

While the KCR-led BRS government did implement some welfare schemes that were appreciated by the people, the loss of its special bond with Telangana has eroded public trust. Disappointment has turned into despair, and there is a growing demand for change in Telangana. Whether the people are willing to experiment with the Congress remains to be seen. Regardless of the election outcome, the Congress’ resurgence in Telangana will undoubtedly be seen as a significant turning point.

(Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author)