Within hours of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announcing renaming of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi into Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), hectic debates have started in political and media circles in Andhra Pradesh.
Various political leaders have already been expressing their views on the possible impact of the BRS on Andhra politics.
While Telugu Desam Party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu just laughed it off, the YSR Congress party leaders have reacted cautiously.
On Thursday, state deputy chief minister Peedika Rajanna Dora said anybody has the freedom to launch any political party anywhere in the country.
“So, we don’t mind KCR launching the BRS and contesting the elections in Andhra,” he said.
He, however, said KCR’s party would not have the chances of survival in Andhra Pradesh, as people would not accept the same.
“How can we allow KCR come here and dominate our people? He didn’t accept Hyderabad to be the joint capital. So, people won’t accept his hegemony here,” Rajanna Dora said.
The deputy CM said some parties which have failed to survive might join hands with KCR. Similarly, frustrated Telugu Desam Party leaders who don’t have the chances of any political future, might also jump into the BRS.
“He may also try to lure Velama leaders from north-coastal Andhra. But nobody from YSR Congress party will join the KCR party. Our party is very strong in Andhra Pradesh with the people’s support. So, there is no threat to the YSRC at all,” he said.