BJP Leaders Question KCR's 'Long Absence', Write to Telangana Guv for Regular 'Health Updates' on CM

Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s “long absence” from the public sphere has set tongues wagging in opposition circles, especially the BJP. This absence became more pronounced after Rao did not give any clarification about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sensational claims that he had sought to join the National Democratic Alliance.

His son, BRS working president KT Rama Rao, refuted the prime minister’s claims but state BJP leaders have started questioning if all is well with the chief minister. Taking this up formally, former minister Marri Shashidhar Reddy wrote to Telangana governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan to direct the state to provide regular health updates on Rao.

Stating that the CM’s absence might be related to issues of succession, Reddy wrote: “Many people have expressed concern over the condition of (Shri) Chandrasekhar Rao. This is more so in view of what has been discussed in many circles, that pressure is being exerted on him by his immediate family members to anoint his son (Shri) KT Rama Rao as the chief minister. This has gained more credence after his planned foray into national politics sometime ago.”

He added: “The concern of the people is because of the fate of some eminent personalities like the late (Shri) Kanshiram ji, whose condition was shrouded in secrecy by his protege Mayawati; this created doubt about his real condition. Another instance, more recently, is of the health condition of J Jayalalithaa that was kept secret, supposedly at the insistence of Sasikala…”

On Friday (October 6), KTR had said that after a viral infection, his father had contracted bacterial infection and was recovering. On September 23, he had taken to Twitter to say that the CM had been suffering from viral fever for many days.

The issue was first raised by Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who said on October 4: “The CM was last seen on Vinayaka Chavithi at Pragathi Bhavan. We pray for KCR’s health. KTR should stop harassing his father to make him the chief minister. We demand that the CM holds a press meet on the expose made by our PM.”

Nizamabad MP Arvind Dharmapuri followed suit and said: “The Chief Minister of the state is unwell, claims his son KTR, for the last 15 days and not even a single bulletin is released or announcement is made on his health condition, treatment or recovery. Don’t the people of this state have the right to be informed about their CM’s well-being? God knows what is conspiring around his suspicious illness.”