Ramchander Rao Revisits BJP’s Telangana Legacy >>>>> And the Unfinished Promises of Statehood : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Ramchander Rao Revisits 

BJP’s Telangana Legacy

And the Unfinished Promises of Statehood

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

As part of the Telangana Formation Day celebrations, and a day after BRS Working President KT Rama Rao reflected on Telangana’s statehood journey through the prism of institutional memory, governance, and political accountability, the Press Club Hyderabad organised a ‘Meet the Press’ program with Telangana State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and former MLC Naraparaju Ramchander Rao on Thursday. The interactive session provided an opportunity to revisit Telangana’s journey prior to and after its formation, from BJP point of view.

Speaking at length, BJP President Naraparaju Ramchander Rao approached the same historical milestone from a different vantage point, and touched upon the genesis of AP State Reorganisation Bill that enabled Telangana Formation, and revealed unambiguously the key role played by BJP. He was speaking at the Club as part of Telangana Formation Week celebrations in a befitting way.  He sought to reposition BJP within the larger narrative of Telangana’s creation, and said that, the history of statehood cannot be completely understood without acknowledging BJP’s consistent and decisive role in the legislative process.

Ramchander Rao, made a case with clarity, that Telangana’s formation was neither the achievement of a single political party nor the exclusive legacy of any one leader. It was a culmination of a collective democratic struggle involving students, employees, lawyers, intellectuals, activists, and ordinary citizens who sustained a prolonged demand for separate state. He reminded that, more than 1200 students and youth sacrificed their lives during the agitations. Any political organisation claiming the entire credit, he argued, is a prejudiced view.

Strongly defending BJP’s place in that history of struggle for Telangana State, Ramchander Rao established the party’s commitment to the cause, which he claimed was rooted in a long-standing ideological belief that smaller states facilitate more responsive governance and administrative efficiency. ‘BJP never altered its position on Telangana, unlike other political parties that adopted shifting stances depending on electoral circumstances,’ stated Ramchander Rao.

He reminisced that when the Telangana Bill reached Parliament amid intense political turbulence and uncertainty, the BJP extended unconditional support. Yet another interesting revelation was about the ‘Behind-the-Scenes Consultations’ that preceded the passage of the Telangana Bill, which he meticulously narrated from his own personal involvement and experience. He recalled himself personally engaging with senior BJP leaders in New Delhi, including the late Arun Jaitley, while working alongside legal experts like Prakash Reddy and Niranjana Reddy, to examine the Bill and recommend suitable amendments.

He described numerous discussions that stretched late into the night, focusing not only on Telangana’s aspirations but also on avoiding any adverse issues and interests of Andhra Pradesh during bifurcation in true spirit. These efforts, he argued, reflected the seriousness with which the BJP approached one of the most consequential federal restructuring exercises in contemporary India. Ramchander Rao further highlighted the role played by national leaders like Sushma Swaraj, whose support for Telangana became one of the defining moments of the parliamentary debate.

Despite criticism, political attacks, and procedural disruptions inside Parliament, the BJP leadership never retreated from its commitment, said Ramchander Rao. He made it clear that, the passage of the Telangana Formation Bill remains a historical testament to the party’s political will, organisational consistency, and willingness to stand by its stated commitments even under difficult circumstances.

Against this background, Ramchander Rao argued that the true measure of Telangana’s success lies in assessing whether the aspirations of the people especially with reference to the tagline, water, funds, and employment opportunities have been fulfilled. He said that, notwithstanding the progress made since statehood, many of the foundational expectations of the movement remain only partially realised or even yet to realize.

His made both BRS and Congress Government squarely responsible for the shortcomings. Ramchander Rao contended that Telangana’s youth continue to face uncertainty despite repeated assurances from successive governments. Job calendars have either been delayed or inadequately implemented, while recruitment examinations have frequently become entangled in controversies and litigation. Focused concern was expressed over the state of higher education. Indifference like government’s apathy in making permanent faculty appointments in universities undermines academic standards and threatens the long-term quality of higher education.

The BJP President described Telangana’s fiscal management which has become a concern, the proof of which are, delays in payments, mounting dues to contractors, and pensioneers, and growing reimbursement arrears. According to Ramchander Rao, these developments warrant serious introspection because they affect not only administrative efficiency but also public confidence in governance itself. He frequently deliberated on the essentiality of periodical assessment as to how far Telangana has progressed in achieving its stated objectives.

He said that the aspirations that animated the statehood movement continue to resonate among the youth, farmers, employees, and students who expected statehood to translate into tangible improvements in their lives. Slightly moving towards different aspect, Ramchander Rao dismissed attempts to revive Telangana sentiment for short-term political gain. He suggested that both the BRS and Congress increasingly rely on emotional narratives to divert attention from governance shortcomings.

He argued, that Governance should revolve around measurable performance rather than perpetual mobilisation around historical grievances. Ramchander Rao further sought to place Telangana politics within a wider national context. He pointed to the BJP’s expanding footprint across Southern India and argued that changing electoral trends demonstrate growing acceptance of the party’s governance model. Citing appropriate examples of BJP’s presence in Governance, he expressed confidence that Telangana, may become part of that larger political evolution.

Responding to questions relating to ideological debates, judicial institutions, and electoral processes, Ramchander Rao maintained that democratic systems derive their strength from constitutional mechanisms. As the interaction drew to a close, a larger theme emerged from Ramchander Rao’s remarks. While Telangana’s creation remains a settled historical fact, the contest over its political memory remains very much alive. Competing parties continue to interpret the statehood movement through different ideological lenses, each seeking to establish its own place within the historical narrative.

For the BJP, Ramchander Rao argued, Telangana represents both a fulfilled commitment and an unfinished journey despite 12 years of its existence. The state may have been achieved, but the deeper goals of employment, efficient governance, educational advancement, and economic opportunity continue to demand attention. Telangana’s political discourse appears increasingly shaped by this duality: the need to preserve the memory of a hard-fought movement while confronting the practical challenges of governance in the present he said.

In Ramchander Rao’s telling, history matters not merely as a record of past achievements but as a benchmark against which contemporary governments must continually be measured. Whether one completely agrees with his conclusions or not, his intervention underscored an enduring reality of Telangana politics, that the debate is no longer about creating the state, but about defining what its success should ultimately look like.

As an observer of Telangana’s political evolution, I feel that, one may agree or disagree with individual political positions, but it is difficult to overlook the significance of Ramchander Rao’s recollections regarding the drafting and passage of the Telangana State Formation Bill (Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014). His detailed account of consultations with national leadership, legal experts, and parliamentary stakeholders offers a valuable glimpse into a less-discussed but crucial phase of the statehood process.

Public movements could be sustained by mass participation and sacrifices, but legislative victories are often secured through patient negotiations, policy scrutiny, and political coordination behind closed doors. Hence, Ramchander Rao’s role was both sincere and substantial. His efforts to engage with the finer details of the Bill, advocate Telangana’s interests at the national level, and ensure continued support for its passage deserve due recognition in the broader historical narrative of Telangana’s formation. As Telangana reflects on twelve years of statehood, acknowledging such contributions during the process of state formation, strengthens the integrity of history.

>>>> Before the 'Meet the Press' program started, I presented my book 'Simplified and Faithful Rendering of Adi Kavya-Valmiki Ramayana' English version of Bala and Ayodhya Kandas to Sri N Ramchander Rao and Press Club President, Secretary and other friends)