The other day, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, in a chitchat with media persons, made an oblique reference to a tacit understanding between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) during the recently concluded panchayat elections.
He said the BRS-BJP coalition contested the elections together in several areas in the state, yet, the combine could manage to secure only around 33% of the Panchayat victories, calling it a clear indication of their limited grassroots strength.
Revanth Reddy further alleged that this “silent coordination” between the BJP and BRS was not accidental, but a calculated political experiment that could serve as a foundation for future alliances.
“Even after contesting in tandem, they failed to cross 33 per cent. That itself exposes their real standing,” he remarked, politically cornering both parties.
Interestingly, neither the BJP nor the BRS issued a direct rebuttal or formal condemnation of Revanth Reddy’s allegations so far, fuelling speculations in political circles that the chief minister’s allegations were true to a large extent.
As if endorsing the chief minister’s allegation, reports from Delhi on the same day said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given audience to a group of BRS Rajya Sabha members and enquired about the health of party president and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).
BRS Rajya Sabha members K.R. Suresh Reddy, Vaddiraju Ravichandra and D. Damodar Rao met the Prime Minister at his office, officially citing discussions on development-related issues.
According to sources, Modi conveyed a personal message asking them to ensure KCR takes good care of his health and insisted that they specifically inform him that the message came directly from the Prime Minister.
Political observers believe such meetings often carry unspoken political messages, diplomatic signalling or preparatory groundwork for future alignments. This outreach has surprised many, given KCR’s past political trajectory.
When he was the chief minister, KCR was one of the sharpest critics of Narendra Modi. He openly attacked Modi’s policies, met leaders of non-BJP parties, and even positioned himself as a potential national alternative.
Following the BRS defeat in 2023, KCR withdrew from national political activity and according to his own daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha, he had even made an attempt to align with the BJP, if not a direct merger.
During the recent Jubilee Hills by-election, there was a talk that the BJP deliberately adopted a passive stance, indirectly aiding a BRS victory.
Similar questions are now being raised about the removal of Bandi Sanjay from the state BJP president’s post, with allegations that it reflected a softer line towards KCR.
Against this backdrop, Modi’s renewed gesture of concern has raised eyebrows as it shows growing warmth towards BRS, especially when the BJP is attempting to expand independently in Telangana.
Political circles are abuzz with speculation over whether the BRS is seeking entry into the NDA, whether merger talks are resurfacing, or whether the BJP aims to politically absorb the regional party altogether.