KCR enters national politics, opens party office in Delhi

New Delhi: In a bid to enter national politics the Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday inaugurated an office of his party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the national capital.

He hoisted the party flag at the office situated in Sardar Patel Marg in the presence of the leaders of Janata Dal (Secular), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and farmer leaders from various states along with Telangana ministers, MPs and state legislators.

He was accompanied by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, former Karnataka chief minister and JD (S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy and other leaders.

The inauguration ceremony took place between 12.37 p.m. and 12.47 p.m., the auspicious time fixed for the event, and elaborate religious rituals were performed on the occasion.

The opening of BRS central office came nearly a week after the Election Commission of India (ECI) accepted the request of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to rechristen itself as BRS.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, formally launched BRS at a ceremony in Hyderabad on December 9.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president and MP Thirumavalan, farmers' leader Gurnam Singh and others also attended the event.

BRS sources said Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejaswi Yadav was also invited but he could not attend due to his father Lalu Prasad Yadav's ill-health

KCR's wife Shobha, daughter K. Kavitha and other family members were also present during the inauguration. However, KCR's son and state minister K.T. Rama Rao could not make it to the event due to pre scheduled engagements in Hyderabad.

With the inauguration of the party office, BRS will begin its activities in the national capital from the rented premises.

The permanent building of BRS is under construction in Vasant Vihar and it is likely to be completed in another two to three months.

KCR, who has been serving as the chief minister of Telangana since the formation of the state in 2014, is looking to play a key role in national politics. He plans to replicate what he calls the successful model of Telangana in other parts of the country through the BRS platform.

-IANS Inputs