Hyderabad, April 13 (NationPress) The family of former Telangana Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), is potentially facing a dispute over the title Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Just days after KCR’s daughter, K. Kavitha—who leads Telangana Jagruthi—suggested that her upcoming party might adopt the name TRS, her brother, K.T. Rama Rao, the Working President of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), confirmed that BRS is considering a return to its previous name, TRS.

Kavitha, who left BRS last year following her suspension for actions deemed detrimental to the party, is preparing to launch a new political entity. She has expressed interest in using the name TRS, asserting that it is available for anyone to adopt.

She pointed out that since TRS no longer exists, anyone is entitled to utilize the name.

KCR established TRS in 2001 to reignite the movement for Telangana's statehood. In 2022, he rebranded the party as BRS to broaden its reach across the nation.

After the BRS's defeat to Congress in the 2023 elections, many within BRS believe the party lost its connection with the populace after omitting Telangana from its name.

They argue that the sentiment for Telangana has been a vital part of TRS's evolution, and the shift to BRS has distanced the party from its foundational roots.

This sentiment was echoed by K.T. Rama Rao during a meeting in Mancherial district, where he revealed that the BRS is evaluating the possibility of reverting to TRS as part of a comprehensive strategy to regain political influence in Telangana.

Rama Rao acknowledged that the name change from TRS to BRS weakened the strong emotional bond tied to the party.

“We have faced political challenges due to the name alteration. The emotional connection that people had with TRS and its pink flag is irreplaceable,” he stated.

Rama Rao believes that restoring the original identity could invigorate party activists. Nonetheless, he clarified that the final decision rests with party leader KCR.

KCR had previously hinted at the possibility of reverting to TRS during a meeting with his legislators at Telangana Bhavan in December last year. In a subsequent press conference, he consistently referred to BRS as TRS.

Numerous senior leaders within BRS have already called for the restoration of the TRS name to help recover lost ground.

KCR is mindful that with only 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, he cannot significantly impact national politics, which is why he proposed the idea of BRS.

Having achieved the goal of a separate Telangana state in 2014 and after two terms in power, KCR was optimistic about replicating the 'Telangana model' of governance in other states.

With ambitions to extend the party’s influence to Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha, KCR announced his national aspirations.

In October 2022, the regional party transformed into a national one when its General Body Meeting decided to rename it BRS.

The party was actively seeking national presence, appointing the President of the party's Andhra Pradesh unit and engaging in discussions with leaders from various states interested in collaborating with him.

With the establishment of a central office in New Delhi, BRS was preparing to widen its activities across the nation.

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in sight, the party aimed to contest for 100 Lok Sabha seats.

However, the defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections in Telangana thwarted the party's aspirations.

It experienced further embarrassment in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, failing to secure any seats.

After remaining relatively inactive for nearly two years, the BRS leadership is now seeking to breathe new life into the party.

They seem to believe that reverting to TRS could set the right tone for reconnecting with the electorate. BRS might officially become TRS again by April 27, coinciding with its formation day.

It remains to be seen how the party navigates the potential legal challenges posed by Kavitha, who appears eager to claim the name.