In April 2001, KCR the Telangana Bapu formed the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to achieve statehood for Telangana. He went about propagating his cause aggressively, giving out several interviews to the media and lashing out at Chandrababu for not being committed enough to the people of Telangana.
KCR frequently dutifully reminded the public the reason for his existence in the political sphere, that being Telangana, and on more than one occasion quit the alliance with the Congress in his protest against their lack of sufficient support to the cause. statehood did become reality, but not before another five years of consistent struggle on the part of KCR and his party.
When he was sworn in as the first chief minister of the newly born state, the mood was strongly in his favour as the man whose steadfast commitment to the cause of the people made Telangana a reality. Four years later though, when the state voted for the second time, it was KCR’s performance as chief minister rather than his rallying call for statehood that was called into question.
What seems to have worked for him in the assembly elections were electrification in rural areas and other welfare schemes that he launched. Some of the schemes he began in the last four years are cash to farmers, cash for girls getting married, and free pensions for the disabled, the elderly and the widowed.
His promise to hand out houses to poor families is yet another program that seems to have played a part in his impressive victory.
KCR completed eight years of service to the people of Telangana.
