The Big Five In TRS  

Hyderabad: Who are the masterminds spearheading the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) campaign for the upcoming elections in Telangana? The strategists behind the scenes who lend muscle to KCR's electioneering. The TRS war room for elections 2018 has a big think-tank, but the most prominent big five giving a much needed push to carry plans out from the drawing board on to the ground are caretaker irrigation minister and nephew, T.Harish Rao, Rajya Sabha member and nephew, Joginapally Santosh Kumar, founding member and Karimnagar MP, B. Vinod Kumar, general secretary of the party and legislative council member, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy and son and caretaker IT minister, K. Tarakarama Rao.

Harish Rao enjoys a good reputation as a trouble-shooter and is a grassroots politician with an ear to the ground. In addition to KCR's Gajwel, Harish Rao has been campaigning extensively villages across the state, and in the combined districts of Medak and Mahbubnagar. He is among the principal strategists setting in motion plans for the development of Telangana. Harish Rao has been hitting out hard at the Mahakutami or Grand Alliance of the Congress and TDP and has been giving a point by point explanation of how it could harm the interests of Telangana, if voted.

Joginapally Santosh Kumar is seen as the party supremo's blue-eyed boy and is his trusted man-Friday. He is the channel to KCR for many party leaders and officials. Santosh Kumar briefs the caretaker chief minister on key developments and at the same time, conveys the suggestions of the party supremo to the leaders and cadre.

MP B. Vinod Kumar has been active as the coordinator for political affairs at the national level. A lawyer by background, he brings in the required legal expertise to put party plans and programmes into action within a sound Constitutional framework.

Palla Rajeshwara Reddy, a former student leader, is one KCR's trusted lietenants. He is among the few leaders entrusted with coordinating with leaders of parties in districts where the caretaker CM's rallies are to be held.

K. Tarakarama Rao, popularly known as KTR, is commonly seen as the next in command when it comes to key decision-making, which include final nod on tickets, pacifying rebel candidates, clearing entry of leaders from other political outfits, publicity, overseeing the social media campaign, among other things. KTR is the spearhead of the action team on a variety of issues across the state.

Also Read: KCR To Target Mahakutami Candidates In Election Campaign