The Love Hate Relationship Of BRS & ABN, Now Ends In A Boycott!

The BRS Party has decided to boycott the ABN Channel. A press note was issued asking all party leaders to stay away from debates on the channel. This decision marks a new phase in the long and tense relationship between BRS and ABN.

The issue began when BRS MLC Ravinder Rao referred to the media as “Pichhi Na Kodukulu”. After he refused to withdraw the remark, ABN Channel host Venkata Krishna lost his temper and asked him to get out of the debate. The exchange quickly escalated into a political flashpoint.

Following the incident, BRS demanded an apology in support of its MLC. The party leadership took this step after facing strong pressure from its own social media supporters. The controversy soon turned into a wider confrontation with the channel.

BRS and ABN have shared a love hate relationship for years. When BRS came to power in 2014, KCR banned the telecast of ABN for several months, citing its alleged anti Telangana stance. The channel remained a consistent critic of the party.

ABN Radhakrishna stood out as a strong voice against KCR and BRS during the peak of their popularity. Even Ramoji Rao later softened his criticism, but Radhakrishna continued his aggressive editorial line. This made him a constant irritant for the party.

Over the years, BRS has alternated between attacking ABN and trying to accommodate it, based on political convenience. Leaders like KCR, KTR, and Kavitha have also given special interviews to Radhakrishna. This reflected the complex nature of their engagement.

KCR once acknowledged that Radhakrishna is the only person who addresses him as “Era Dora” across the country. Despite this personal familiarity, tensions never fully eased. Ideological and political differences continued to dominate the relationship.

BRS reportedly dislikes Radhakrishna due to his anti BRS stance and his Kamma caste background. Although Radhakrishna belongs to Telangana, party leaders believe he favours Chandrababu Naidu. These perceptions have deepened mistrust over time.

The ongoing friction has now resulted in a complete boycott of the channel. This decision comes at a difficult time, as BRS is currently in the Opposition. Cutting ties with a major media outlet carries clear political risks.

ABN has grown stronger as a media platform in recent months. For most of the past year, it ranked third or fourth in the BARC Ratings List. In Hyderabad, the channel often secured the top position for several weeks.

Boycotting such an influential channel could prove risky for BRS while out of power. Radhakrishna may also adopt a more aggressive stance after this move. The fallout of this decision is likely to shape future political narratives.