LS Polls 2019: Is KCR’s Mission a Non-BJP, Non-Cong Federal Front?

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) appears to be on a mission, as he gathers support for a non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party federal front, possibly comprising of regional parties.

But can this federal front become a political reality or is it just KCR’s pipe dream? Senior journalist Sugata Srinivasaraju, E Venkateshu, an associate professor, University of Hyderabad and CSDS Lokniti Coordinator joined in on a discussion along with author Krishna Ananth and journalist Kingshuk Nag on KCR’s strategy and its possible outcome.

While Nag argued that KCR might be eyeing the prime minister’s post and is currently cultivating a front to support NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Srinivasaraju disagreed, calling KCR a practical politician who is aware of his limitations.

“He (KCR) fancies that he should become the prime minister because he thinks that NDA will not get enough numbers to make Modi the prime minister, therefore, he is forming a front which will support the NDA, I think.”

Kingshuk Nag, Journalist and Author 

Dismissing Nag’s theory, Srinivasaraju said, “He is an extremely shrewd and practical politician. I disagree that he wants to become the prime minister of India, he knows his limitations. I think he is just keeping the idea of federal front alive so there could be a good bargaining when the results come on 23 (May).”

He also argued that the Telangana's chief minister's first preference would be a non-BJP front.

While E Venkateshu believes that KCR’s strategy of forming a front with the regional parties could be a way of bringing the era of coalition politics back in the country, Krishna Ananth argued that KCR could be attempting to jostle for a place within a set of regional parties.