Prime Minister Modi’s Game-Changing Speech in Telangana Politics
In the realm of political speeches, there are a few that hold the power to reshape the course of an entire state’s politics. Even rarer are the orators who can deliver such speeches. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address in Nizamabad, Telangana, is one of those remarkable moments that could potentially divide the state’s politics into “before” and “after.”
Standing before a diverse audience comprising BJP party workers, farmers, women, students, and even children, Modi engaged in his signature conversational style. It felt like a genuine and spontaneous dialogue between him and the people, striking a chord with the citizens of Telangana. Prime Minister Modi asked if he could share some truths that had never been disclosed or discussed in public before. The response from the crowd was resounding approval, with thunderous applause.
In a rare moment, Prime Minister Modi revealed something that took everyone by surprise. Prime Minister Modi disclosed how Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief K. Chandrashekar Rao had been trying to court him and requesting to join the NDA alliance. Prime Minister Modi also shared details of how KCR had approached him to form a local government together in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation after the GHMC polls resulted in a hung house. On another occasion, KCR supposedly asked Modi to allow him to step back from public life and retire from politics, making his son K.T. Rama Rao the Chief Minister of the state.
In just a few minutes, Telangana’s political landscape was completely upended, setting the stage for the upcoming state Assembly polls. Different narratives emerged following Modi’s revelations, creating an expected discord among the political players. Prime Minister Modi made it clear that he had denied entry to KCR into the NDA due to allegations of corruption and other misconduct, which, in his view, disqualified KCR from a seat alongside him.
While KCR did not publicly dispute or deny these allegations, reportedly due to health issues, his son and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao vigorously defended his father. He accused Prime Minister Modi of being a deceiver, a liar, and even dubbed him the “chancellor of WhatsApp University.” KTR questioned why they needed Modi’s permission to change their Chief Minister, rhetorically asking, “Have we been bitten by a mad dog?”
The Congress Party, riding high on recent successes, relished the discomfort of both the BJP and BRS, whom they referred to as “bhai-bhai” (brothers). Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief A. Revanth Reddy saw Modi’s revelations as an attempt to split the anti-incumbency vote in favor of BRS, which according to several surveys and indicators, is facing significant challenges.
The Congress raised questions about the lack of action by central agencies like the CBI, ED, or I-T against the BRS leadership, despite allegations of corruption, contrasting this with their actions in other states. They wondered if there was a special relationship at play.
The AIMIM, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, remained relatively quiet. Having previously appealed to the Muslim community to support the BRS, Owaisi’s party found itself in an awkward position following Modi’s revelations.
In the end, Prime Minister Modi’s speech had a profound impact on Telangana politics. He came, he spoke, and he changed everything. The state now finds itself at a crossroads, with political dynamics and alliances shifting in response to the revelations made during that fateful speech in Nizamabad.