Telangana CM KCR's Maharashtra tour: 600 vehicles, 6 km long convoy

Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, popularly known as KCR, embarked on a two-day tour of Maharashtra on Monday with an aim to strengthen his party’s presence in the neighbouring state. He was accompanied by many state ministers, MPs, MLCs, MLAs and other party leaders in a massive convoy of around 600 vehicles.

The convoy, about six kilometres long, started from Pragati Bhavan, KCR’s official residence in Hyderabad. KCR himself travelled in a special Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus with some senior BRS leaders and greeted the people who had gathered along the way to welcome him.

During his tour, KCR will participate in various party programmes in Solapur district and interact with leaders of different parties interested in joining BRS. He will also perform special puja at Pandharpur and Tuljapur temples. According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), KCR will reach Solapur in the evening and stay there overnight.

On Tuesday, he will attend a BRS programme in Solapur where prominent local leader Bhagirath Bhalke will formally join the party in KCR’s presence. He will also meet the workers from Telangana who have migrated to Solapur for livelihood. Later, he will visit Pandharpur and offer prayers at Vithoba Rukmini Temple. He will then proceed to Dharashiv district and worship at Tulja Bhavani temple. After completing the religious rituals, he will return to Hyderabad.

600 vehicles follow #KCR to Maharashtra. Telangana CM #KCR, #BRS Chief, leaves to Solapur with his entourage. 600 vehicles of MPs, MLAs, MLCs, party leaders move along with CM’s vehicle to Solapur where he would be on a two-day tour as part of party expansion plans. #KCR #BRS pic.twitter.com/AgCny7oJ4J

— Rishika Sadam (@RishikaSadam) June 26, 2023

This is KCR’s fifth visit to Maharashtra after he renamed his party from Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to BRS a few months ago with the intention of expanding the party’s activities across the country. He chose Maharashtra as the first state to launch his national campaign.

On June 15, he inaugurated the BRS office in Nagpur. He had visited Nanded, Aurangabad and other places to address public meetings and woo voters. KCR has claimed that BRS is receiving tremendous response in Maharashtra, and many leaders and workers from various parties have joined BRS in the last few weeks. He has been focusing on agricultural issues and the problems faced by farmers. He has urged people to vote for ‘Kisan sarkar’ (farmer’s government) in Maharashtra and at the Centre.

KCR has been projecting Telangana as a model state for development and welfare. He has been highlighting the schemes implemented by his government in Telangana, such as Rythu Bandhu (farm investment support), Rythu Bima (farmers’ insurance), Mission Kakatiya (revival of irrigation tanks), Mission Bhagiratha (drinking water supply), 24×7 free power supply to farmers, Kalyana Lakshmi/Shaadi Mubarak (financial assistance for marriage of girls), Aasara pensions (social security pensions), KCR Kits (maternal and child health care), etc. He has been calling for replicating these schemes in Maharashtra and other states.

KCR has also been criticizing the central government for its policies and decisions that he alleges are detrimental to the interests of farmers and states. He has been demanding that the Centre repeal the three farm laws that have triggered protests by farmers nationwide. He has also opposed the privatization of public sector undertakings and demanded more autonomy for states concerning finance and administration.

KCR’s Maharashtra tour is part of his strategy to emerge as a key player in national politics ahead of the 2024 general elections. He has been trying to forge a federal front of regional parties to provide an alternative to BJP and Congress at the Centre. He has also been expressing his ambition to become the Prime Minister of India if BRS wins enough seats in Lok Sabha.

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