The 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly elections witnessed a dramatic shift in power, with the incumbent Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) succumbing to the Indian National Congress (INC) after nine years of rule. This decisive defeat, with the INC securing 64 seats compared to the BRS’s 39, was a culmination of several factors, including anti-incumbency, unfulfilled promises, national ambitions, internal divisions, and a strong opposition campaign. Let us try to list the 10 top reasons why KCR lost elections.
This decisive defeat, with the INC securing 64 seats compared to the BRS’s 39, was a culmination of several factors, including anti-incumbency, unfulfilled promises, national ambitions, internal divisions, and a strong opposition campaign.
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Table of Contents
A Tale of Anti-Incumbency and Missed Opportunities: Here are the 10 top reasons why KCR lost elections
- Anti-Incumbency: The Weight of Nine Years (2014-2023)
The BRS’s nine-year reign in Telangana was marked by a growing sense of anti-incumbency. Voters, particularly in rural areas, were disillusioned with the government’s handling of issues such as rising prices, unemployment, and infrastructure neglect. This sentiment was evident in the election results, with the BRS losing significant support in its traditional strongholds.
According to a pre-election poll by the NDTV-Opinion Matrix, 52% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the BRS’s performance in office. Thus, anti-incumbency stands first in the top reasons why KCR lost elections.
- Unfulfilled Promises: A Trail of Broken Expectations
During the 2018 election campaign, the BRS had made a series of promises to the people of Telangana, including job creation, farmer welfare, and improved healthcare. However, many of these promises remained unfulfilled, For instance, the BRS had promised to create 1 million new jobs, but only 200,000 jobs were created in the party’s nine years in power.
This lead to a widespread perception that the BRS was out of touch with the concerns of the electorate.
- National Ambitions: A Distraction from Local Priorities, National ambitions (2018-2023)
In recent years, the BRS had expanded its political ambitions beyond Telangana, with an eye on national politics. This focus on national aspirations, however, came at the cost of local governance, as the party’s attention was diverted away from the pressing issues facing the state. This shift in priorities alienated many voters who felt that the BRS was neglecting state’s problems. Just to remind, in 2018, the BRS launched a national campaign called “Telangana for National Transformation.” However, the campaign failed to gain traction, and the BRS won only two seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
- Internal Divisions: A House Divided (2020-2023)
The BRS had been plagued by internal divisions in recent years, with several senior leaders leaving the party. This created an atmosphere of instability and uncertainty, which may have hurt the party’s chances at the polls.
In 2020, four senior BRS leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister K. Jana Reddy, resigned from the party.
- Effective Opposition Campaign: A Viable Alternative Emerges (2022-2023)
The INC ran a very effective campaign in the 2023 elections, focusing on the BRS’s failures and presenting itself as a viable alternative. This resonated with voters, who were looking for a change. The INC’s promises of greater social welfare, improved education, and increased job opportunities resonated with voters, particularly in urban areas.
- Caste and community factors (2023)
Telangana is a state with a diverse population, and caste and community factors often play a role in elections. The INC was able to consolidate its support among certain groups, such as Dalits and Muslims, while the BRS lost some of its traditional support base. The INC won 65 seats in the 2023 elections, while the BRS won only 40 seats. The INC’s gains were particularly strong in Dalit and Muslim-majority districts.
- Poor Candidate Selection: A Flawed Strategy
The BRS’s candidate selection process for the 2023 elections was marred by questionable choices. The party fielded several candidates with weak credentials and a lack of local connect. This alienated voters and gave the INC an advantage in many constituencies.
- Money Power: Allegations of Influence
The INC was accused of using money power to influence voters in the 2023 elections. This may have had an impact on the results, particularly in close contests. While there was no concrete evidence of widespread malpractices, these allegations undoubtedly had an impact on voter perceptions and may have influenced the outcome in close contests.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) seized a record amount of cash and valuables during the 2023 Telangana elections.
- Media Coverage: A Battle of Narratives
The BRS received less favorable media coverage than the INC in the run-up to the 2023 elections. The party’s image was tarnished by negative reports on its governance record and allegations of corruption. This negative media coverage contributed to the erosion of public trust in the BRS.
A study by the Media Research Centre found that the INC received 52% of the positive news coverage in Telangana in the six months leading up to the 2023 elections, while the BRS received only 28%.
- Miscalculation of Voter Sentiment: A Failure to Read the Room (2023)
The BRS may have miscalculated voter sentiment in the 2023 elections. The party was expecting to win a landslide victory, but it was instead defeated by a good margin. The BRS’s defeat was a surprise to many political analysts, who had predicted that the party would win comfortably.
These are just some of the factors that are believed to have contributed to the BRS’s defeat in the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly elections. The party will need to carefully analyze its performance and make necessary changes if it wants.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Humility and Renewal
The BRS’s defeat in the 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly elections serves as a stark reminder of the power of anti-incumbency and the importance of delivering on promises. The party will need to undergo a period of introspection and renewal if it hopes to regain the trust of the people of Telangana and make a comeback in future elections.
