BRS faced a heavy defeat in the Jubilee Hills By-election. Losing by 25,000 votes is a major setback no matter what explanation the party gives. The scale of the loss shows how serious the situation is for the party right now.
This is the third defeat for BRS under KTR’s leadership after the Parliament Election and the Secunderabad Cantonment By-election. The party has not seen a single win during his leadership, which raised many questions within political circles.
This defeat triggered a debate on KTR’s ability to lead. Opponents started calling him a failed leader. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy claimed BRS has no future with KCR unwell and KTR struggling to lead the party effectively.
You cannot say if this is a complete failure, but it is a major setback. The bigger question is who is responsible for this situation KCR or KTR? The answer lies in how the party handled its leadership shift.
KCR stepped back at a time when BRS needed him the most. If his health forced the decision, the party must accept the misfortune. But if he wanted to avoid facing Revanth Reddy as Chief Minister, it turned into a self-made crisis.
KCR had nine years in power to elevate KTR but waited too long. The chosen moment came after the party slipped into the Opposition, turning what should have been a smooth transition into a difficult phase for both leaders.
Leaders shine when victories create momentum. Media support grows, party leaders show respect, and the public responds to the buzz around them. In such times, confidence looks natural because everything around the leader pushes them forward.
But the same attitude looks different when power is gone. The style that worked earlier appears like arrogance. KTR is stuck in this phase where his earlier body language and tone do not fit the party’s current situation in the Opposition.
Keeping the cadre motivated in the Opposition demands a new skill set. Leaders lose energy, teams avoid stepping forward due to heavy expenses, and cadres remain discouraged. KTR is now dealing with a reality he did not face when the party ruled.
What KTR learned while in Power does not match what he needs today. He still carries the attitude of someone with authority, but he lacks the tools needed to run a party in Opposition. This gap is now hurting the party’s progress.
Maturity at this stage only comes with experience. Knowledge is gained quickly, but experience cannot be borrowed. KCR should have guided KTR through this transition. That guidance is missing, and the party is paying the price for it.
KTR has the ability to lead BRS. What he needs now is a stronger commitment to learn, and what KCR needs is the patience to guide him. Only then can the party rebuild itself and handle the challenges ahead.
