KCR is billed by his critics and followers as Hitler, dictator etc. Because, KCR deals harshly with anyone who challenges him or his party TRS and will not spare anyone if they don't show obedience to him.
But all this seems to be the thing of the past. For the first time in his political career, KCR seems to be pushed from offensive mode to defensive mode.
The classic example is that of TRS senior leader and minister Etela Rajender who openly challenged KCR recently saying that minister post to him is not a 'biksha' by anyone.
More annoying for KCR is that Etela claiming 'ownership' over TRS saying that he is one among the owners of TRS as he has been with TRS since its inception and not like other TRS leaders who defected from other parties.
Despite all this, KCR kept mum and tried for a 'compromise' with Rajender by not initiating any action against them.
Such is the 'confidence' of Etela that KCR will not do anything against him, he chaired a meeting as health minister with officials on Ganesh festival day in Hyderabad to review the spread of dengue and malaria in Telangana.
Everybody expected that Etela's days are numbered as KCR will not tolerate open resentment against him.
A simple letter leaked to media written by then deputy CM Rajaiah to KCR explaining him that he did not indulge in any corruption or did not bring any bad name to TRS government, angered KCR, who sacked Rajaiah from deputy CM's post immediately.
In Etela's case, though Etela openly challenged KCR in a public meeting, KCR kept mum.
KCR's defensive mode is said to be because of BJP strengthening in Telangana, especially, North Telangana districts, considered as bastion of TRS.
BJP won three out of four Lok Sabha seats in North Telangana region. Etela belongs to Karimnagar in North Telangana, from where TRS sittng MP, KCR's close aide B Vinod Kumar lost to BJP's Bandi Sanjay in recent Lok Sabha polls.
KCR fears that if he sacks Etela, he will join BJP, which will further strengthen BJP in North Telangana districts. Moreover, BCs will also move away from TRS, if he is sacked.
KCR's daughter Kavitha's shocking defeat at the hands of BJP in Nizamabad, the BJP's aggressive approach in Telangana is learnt to have pushed KCR into a defensiive mode for the first time.