KCR takes oath as MLA for ninth time, BRS upbeat on his return

HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) took oath as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Gajwel Constituency here at the Assembly on Thursday. Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad administered the oath at his chambers. Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu and former IT Minister KT Rama Rao were also present.

KCR who underwent hip replacement surgery after a fall at his farmhouse could not attend the oath-taking ceremony on the first day of the third Assembly of the State. KCR who can walk with the help of a stick started from his residence in Nandinagar at noon and reached the State Assembly by car. He was received by senior BRS leaders at the Assembly.

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The BRS chief also assumed charge as the BRS legislative party leader. His return even though symbolic will surely strengthen the morale of the beleaguered party that lost the recent Assembly elections. KCR who contested from Kamareddy and Gajwel has lost the Kamareddy seat.

The resurgent Congress has introduced whitepapers on State finances and also on the power sector in his absence as he was recuperating following the surgery. The first-ever Assembly meeting also discussed irrigation projects, a pet subject of the former Chief Minister. The absence of KCR was striking as an architect of the major lift irrigation projects he could have effectively participated in the debate about irrigation projects.

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At a time when the State is getting ready for the budget session encapsulating the allocations for the six guarantees, KCR’s presence as the leader of the opposition would bring some semblance to the State Assembly. On the other hand, the Congress Government which was finding it difficult to fund the 420 promises it made and depended on blaming the former Government for lack of funds would find it difficult to face a seasoned politician like KCR as BRSLP leader.

The return of KCR into active politics after a brief break also encouraged the party MLAs, MPs, and MLCs as the Lok Sabha elections are nearing and the cadre needed the KCR mark pep talk to lift the sagging spirits. Party leaders have announced that the BRS chief would start attending the Telangana Bhavan regularly and review the Lok Sabha constituencies.