Tanneru Harish Rao, nephew of Telangana Rashtra Samithi [TRS] chief K Chandrasekhar Rao joined politics at the age of 32. He contested from Siddipet Assembly segment in 2004 and won the elections effortlessly.

With the only aim to achieve Telangana, TRS allied with Congress in 2004 elections but by 2006 the alliance broke. In protest of delaying the creating of Telangana, TRS moved out of UPA government. In the year 2008, 16 TRS MLAs resigned and went for elections. Harish Rao won the elections again.

War with Rajagopal

Harish Rao has been the front runners in the TRS party and backed all the decisions by KCR. He criticized Congress party for wantedly delaying the creation of Telangana and even went on a war with Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal. Their heated conversations in various television channels still have the influence.  In the 2009 general elections gave bad results for TRS party but Harish did not lose. The turning point was KCR's fast for Telangana, in which Harish played a crucial role.

Ugly side

Being nephew of KCR, Harish too got the bad mouth. He did not mind abusing leaders opening in TV shows and used foul language against top police officials. Harish was also involved in a man handling case of a Andhra Pradesh Bhavan working employee. Though this made a bad impress to the other region people, Harish was reckoned as hero in Telangana. In 2010 elections when TRS MLAs again resigned as the UPA government went back on Telangana statement, Harish won the by-elections with a record majority. With 95,869 votes Harish scored a record win and this is still the best majority in the Andhra Pradesh state.

Is Harish no. 2 in TRS ?

KCR's son K Taraka Rama Rao entered into the politics in the year 2009. Currently he represent Sirisilla constituency and has been playing a vital role in pushing the party towards public. With the emergence of KTR, rumors are like Harish influence is going down. But then Harish did not spill the beans about it and still supported KCR. TRS party too always acknowledged Harish for his efforts however the party is in dilemma whether who is the one after KCR. [Even we don't know].

With the Telangana becoming reality now, TRS is getting ready for the elections. Survey reports say TRS would win the elections and form government and so the party has pinned high hopes. Harish will definitely campaign aggressively and we get into hear that he has been appointed as the chairman of the Municipal elections committee. Well he doesn't mind contesting from anywhere in Telangana region as it is cake walk for him but the Municipal elections are going to be tough task for him.

(AW: Vamshi)