The cold war in the  KCR family has once again surfaced. The million dollar question as to who would be the Prince of TRS-'Is it KTR or Harish Rao' is still hanging and if the recent outburst of KCR is to be interpreted, he seems to be favoring his nephew - Harish Rao, rather than son KTR.

The general impression that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is giving a lot of importance to his son K T Rama Rao and daughter K Kavitha has gained ground in TRS and other circles from the beginning. "Though they are my blood, they too had sacrificed and participated in the Telangana movement," KCR had said initially silencing all criticism in favour of Harish Rao.

Recently, KCR had allegedly openly humiliated KTR in the presence of officials during a review meeting. KCR did not appreciate the intervention of KTR or his suggestion or about a scheme  when the Chief Minister was formulating a program with officials. Senior officials like Narasinga Rao had tried to signal KTR not to intervene but failed to catch KTR's attention. The Chief Minister lost his cool and asked KTR to brief them if he knew  better. “If you think you are so intelligent, You please take over so that I can relax (I can get out and go home). You come here and occupy my seat. But now be within your limits and talk only when you are asked for your opinion or if you have some significant contribution to make."

KTR was left red faced with humiliation. Though he continued to stay on till the meeting ended, he did not attend any other meetings with the Chief Minister that day even though some were with regard to budgetary demands of his ministry - IT and Panchayat Raj. KCR asked about his presence and when officials were hapless, he shrug and went ahead with the meeting. KTR had avoided him for two days till February 17, KCR's birth day  when he went home with family to greet him after his return from Mumbai. "You have a lot to learn my son," KCR is believed to have told KTR without elaborating.

Political analysts say KCR's focus is more on Harish Rao and a more fitting place in party politburo and also his kitchen cabinet which has been annoying KTR and also Kavitha over the last few months. Ever Since KTR returned from an official trip from Dubai, he has been a changed man and has distanced himself from KCR and Harish Rao. But KTR and Kavitha are together and regularly interact on their political fortunes. "I know what they want. I will respond to it in the right time," KCR had said when Harish had drawn attention to the campaign by his cousins - KTR and Kavitha.

Obviously, Harish had found both of them a 'nuisance and also hindrance' in the path of his political growth. Close aides of KCR and TRS senior leaders say that Harish had sown seeds of suspicion in KCR's mind about  the antics of KTR. So sending Kavitha away to Delhi as Union Minister was one of the divisive strategies to isolate KTR.

KCR is doing a balancing act between KTR and Harish. KTR saw to it that  Deputy CM Rajaiah (a close confidant of Harish) was sacked. Harish also hit back by ensuring that KTR  associates Vinay Bhaskar and one other MLA were not inducted into cabinet as per the recommendation of KTR  but put down as Parliament secretaries.

KTR had  been absent from all meetings on Harish ministries. He also did not go for the Water grid review in Siddipet when KCR paid rich tributes to Harish for his 'good work'. KTR had also not attended two cabinet meetings recently. He had attended the last one on the advise of Chief Secretary that in case he missed the third cabinet meeting, he may not get any agenda papers of the cabinet meeting and decisions in future.

Reports from within the party indicate that KCR, in fact, does not trust his children and is angry with their extra-constitutional activities. KTR's high handedness over other ministers, officials and also interference in activities of other cabinet members doesn't seem to please KCR one bit. Even Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Ali had to do some bidding of KTR. "KTR made me sign a file at midnight," Ali told some of his close friends. Even Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy had a same story to narrate. "KTR calls me whenever he wants  and does not bother about time or place and asks me to do this and that," Nayani had cribbed before

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