Hyderabad: Telangana’s Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) has been absent from public view for three weeks, citing health reasons, igniting a political firestorm. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has addressed a letter to the governor, expressing concerns over the secrecy surrounding KCR’s health.
KCR’s last public appearance was on September 17th, during the Telangana Integration Day event in Hyderabad’s Public Gardens, where he hoisted the national flag and delivered a speech. Since then, reports indicate he has been battling a viral fever and cough, followed by a secondary bacterial lung infection.
During this period, KCR’s son and minister, K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), has been the sole source of information regarding the CM’s health and whereabouts. Notably, KCR’s wife, Shobha Rao, paid a visit to the Tirumala shrine in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, adding a layer of curiosity amid the health concerns.
Marri Shashidhar Reddy, a prominent figure within the BJP, has written to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, demanding transparency regarding KCR’s medical condition and treatment. He draws parallels to past instances where political leaders concealed their health conditions from the public.
Reddy emphasized, “There has been a veil of secrecy about the CM’s health condition. It was revealed a few days ago that he had a mild viral infection. Yesterday, suddenly a disclosure has been, purportedly, made by his son and minister KTR that his father has a secondary (bacterial) infection of the lungs.”
He further pressed that regular health bulletins are standard practice in such cases, a protocol seemingly absent in this instance. Reddy, citing examples of secrecy surrounding health issues of eminent figures like Kanshi Ram and J. Jayalalithaa, underscores the need for transparency.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) announced on Monday that KCR is scheduled to hold a meeting at the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) headquarters on October 15th. The agenda includes releasing the election manifesto and distributing ‘B’ forms to his candidates for the assembly polls on November 30th. Additionally, KCR will commence his election tours on the same day, starting with a rally in Husnabad.
Reddy’s remarks garnered an objection from BRS leader Dasoju Sravan, who suggested focusing on assembly tickets and campaign efforts. Sravan also noted that viral fever has affected many, including KCR’s close family members.
Addressing a public gathering in Parkal on Monday, KTR expressed confidence in his father’s swift recovery, stating, “within a day or two, the tiger (KCR) will come out and all the foxes (opposition leaders) will go into hiding.”
Former bureaucrat R.V. Chandravadan, however, pointed out that KCR’s periodic absences are not unfamiliar to Telangana’s populace. He expressed uncertainty about the CM’s whereabouts, whether in the Pragathi Bhavan or at his farmhouse retreat.
Pragathi Bhavan, a lavish office-residence, is located in the upscale Begumpet area. During KCR’s absence, KTR and Rao have reportedly taken charge of government and party affairs.
