“Endhi ee lolli (What’s this nuisance)?” A trademark quip that Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrashekar Rao, or KCR, used to hush crowds at his rallies has given way to simple hand gestures signalling people to keep calm.
Like his trademark quip, the CM’s hardcore supporters are also missing his speeches laced with wit and repartees. In the past, KCR used idioms or phrases to target his critics and political rivals, often sending the crowds in raptures.
Some of his typical remarks for the crowd such as “khamosh baitho (shut up and sit)” and “emkavali neeku What do you want)?”, and the “thu mee bathukulu (sigh! your lives)” directed at political opponents are among his most famous comments.
It is not uncommon for youth in the crowds to deliberately interrupt his speeches in an attempt to draw rebukes or witty remarks, which are usually met with whistles and cheers from the people. Recently, when a youth tried to distract him, the CM replied, “Naa tho panchayati chaala danger (A face-off with me is very dangerous).” He also told off Congress leaders over their allegations of corruption and claims that a free power supply of three to five hours was enough for the agriculture sector by terming them as “pichchi sannasulu (mad and stupid people)”.
However, KCR seems to have, while highlighting his government’s work, replaced the witty retorts and one-liners with more serious issues. “Political maturity has not reached our country. In the US, leaders do not hold public meetings like this. They debate on live television and people decide. Our country has a democratic process but it is not as mature as it should be. Developed countries have tremendous political maturity. With that, those countries are advancing a lot. Many countries do not hold such large gatherings. They vote on the policies of the party by watching messages on television sets. That day will be here too,’’ he said in Ramagundam on Friday.
KCR’s praja aashirwad sabhas (public meetings) often draw huge crowds. When a section, especially the boisterous youth, tried to interrupt him with slogans of “Jai KCR” and whistles, he gestured to them to sit down, drawing responses such as “KCR sir aaj form mein nahi hai (Today, KCR sir is not in his element)”.
At another meeting, the CM told the noisy crowd that he would shout with them after the rally. “I have a tight schedule, let me finish first, please,” he said.
In Mulugu, where many of the youth tried to attract his attention, the CM said, “It is better to make a decision based on the qualities of the candidate and the party’s perspective. Vote is a strong weapon. It will be good if you vote for who is better in the state.’’
Interestingly, KCR received an “advisory” from the Election Commission on November 24 about his alleged controversial remarks about the Congress leadership. The EC asked the CM to follow the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct in “letter and spirit”.
However, BRS leaders say that the CM’s lack of engagement with the crowd is because of his tight schedule. He addresses four public meetings a day. They say the CM has to complete addressing a meeting within a set timeframe to reach his next venue on time. “At each public meeting, he also meets local leaders, greets and shakes hands with anyone joining the BRS. He has to hurry from one place to another. So, apart from addressing the rally, there is very little time to engage with the crowd,’’ a BRS leader said.
Hectic schedule
The CM, who kickstarted the BRS’s campaign on October 15, has addressed 90 rallies in as many constituencies and will address rallies in seven to eight segments more in the coming days.
On the campaign trail, KCR will skip 22 urban constituencies in and around Hyderabad, which includes the seven — Karwan, Nampally, Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Yakutpura, Bahadurpura, and Malakpet — held by Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM. The other constituencies where the CM will not campaign are Musheerabad, Kukatpally, Amberpet, Khairatabad, Jubilee Hills, Sanathnagar, Secunderabad, Secunderabad Cantt, LB Nagar, Uppal, Qutbullapur, Malkajigiri, Goshamahal, Serilingampally, and Rajendranagar.
Party insiders claim the CM decided to skip campaigning in these constituencies and concentrate on rural segments as his ministers are already campaigning here daily. KCR’s last public meeting for this election is scheduled for November 28 night on his home turf Gajwel.
