Irony of victory: Amid pink flood, no cheer for Harish Rao

HYDERABAD: A day after K T Rama Rao was appointed TRS working president amid a huge round of applause at Telangana Bhavan, the silence was deafening among supporters of Harish Rao. On Saturday, scores of fans of the Siddipet legislator made a beeline for Ministers’ Quarters in the city to express solidarity with their leader.
Harish’s next move will be watched as the anointment of KTR as working president caused heartburn and triggered concern.It was seen as a case of a father preferring the son over nephew even though Harish joined the statehood stir from word go and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with KCR since the launch of TRS in 2001.
Both KTR and Harish, however, have made it clear several times there were no differences between them, but KCR’s sudden decision to elevate KTR and make him the second-in-command is being seen by Harish supporters as a royal snub to their leader. What particularly bothers his fans was the fact that Harish didn’t find a place in the front row during the swearing-in of KCR. He had to be content with a seat a few rows behind. Harish won with the highest majority in the state from his Siddipet constituency, but the crowd that trooped to his house did not appear to celebrate.
The mood was sombre. Harish supporters who came to his house are not unhappy about KTR’s elevation, but are keeping their fingers crossed on how much importance their leader would get. It’s learnt Harish Rao told his supporters not to get angry as it was KCR’s prerogative to utilise services of anyone in the party.
On Friday, the mood was cordial as KTR drove down to Harish Rao’s residence after his appointment as working president. Harish was away when KTR dropped by and quickly returned to meet him. He later made a formal statement to the media they would work together. Harish’s unsmiling face, however, betrayed his emotion. In the last government, Harish was irrigation minister while KTR held the key IT and industries portfolios.
KCR was sworn in CM on December 13 along with another minister Mahmood Ali, who has been given the home portfolio. The cabinet expansion, it was announced, will take place in a week.
Harish supporters, who also contributed to TRS victory in many constituencies, are now keeping fingers crossed. The question haunting them is whether Harish will be inducted into the cabinet at all. The Kaleshwaram project has neared completion and KCR has credited Harish, who was irrigation minister, for making his dream come true.