KT Rama Rao: Modern Leader Rooted In Regional Politics (image: instagram.com/ktrtrs)
Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, popularly known by the acronym KTR, is the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and in the Telangana government he serves as the Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, and Industries & Commerce Departments. He is the son of K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), President of BRS and chief minister of Telangana.
Being brought up in a political family, the inclination towards public life always instilled in him. After completing MBA in USA, KTR worked there for a few years and then came back and joined the journey of politics and protests. Under the leadership of his father, KTR fought for the separate statehood of Telangana. KTR won from Telangana”s Sircilla constituency, the popular textile town, four times in a row in 2009, 2010 (by-election), 2014 and 2018. In 2009, he won the assembly election from Sircilla by defeating Independent candidate KK Mahender Reddy with a close margin of just 171 votes. And in 2014, KTR kept the constituency by defeating Congress candidate Konduru Ravinder Rao for a larger margin of over 53,000 votes. In the previous Telangana Assembly Election in 2018, KTR again won the seat with a record number of more than 89,000 votes. In the upcoming assembly election also he is contesting from Sircilla. KK Mahender Reddy of Congress Party, Rani Rudrama of BJP, and independent candidate Lagisetty Srinivas are his oppositions in the poll fray.
Like his father, KTR is also well known for his articulate speeches and clarity. His oration, involving humour, rebuttals, and catchlines have fans all over. In the past nine years in governance, the two-time cabinet minister KTR developed an image of a modern leader with an appealing and natural tone. KTR also undertakes influential role within the council of ministers in topics like information technology, industrial policy, and corporate affairs. Besides, he is actively involved in the development and modernisation of the city of Hyderabad. His leadership, persistent efforts, and vision in expanding the IT and high-tech industry in Telangana is well known. Besides, he has taken steps to create proactive and business-friendly Industrial, IT and Electronics policies for facilitating electronics manufacturing ecosystem in the State and also worked for the promotion of entrepreneurship.
However, the discontentment of the Weavers” community called “Padmashalis” in Sircilla over the implementation of the “Bathukamma Saree” scheme and other special schemes for their emancipation cast shadow over the fate of KTR in election. As the weavers community constitute majority of 2.43 lakh voters in Sircilla, their support is crucial for any contestant to win in the election. What is in the store for Sircilla, decides the destiny of KTR in continuing or reframing the political trajectory.
