Hyderabad: The city of Dallas wore a distinctly Telangana hue over the weekend as thousands of NRIs packed the Dr Pepper Arena to mark the BRS’s silver jubilee. The air was electric with pride and nostalgia as K. T. Rama Rao, the party’s working president, took the stage, reminding the crowd that wherever they are, Telangana’s heartbeat follows.
“Telangana comes first—always,” KTR declared, his voice cutting through the cheers. For the diaspora gathered, it was more than a slogan. It was a reaffirmation of everything they’d fought for: a state carved out of resilience and unity.
The evening brought together families, friends, and old memories. From every corner of America, Telugu-speaking NRIs came to celebrate the story of a state that, in just a decade, had turned itself into a byword for progress. KTR didn’t mince words. “Telangana didn’t just survive; it thrived,” he said, his gaze sweeping the crowd.
He credited the transformation to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s leadership—a man who turned a drought-ridden region into one of India’s most dynamic economies. “No one can deny what we’ve achieved,” KTR said. “Every statistic, every milestone tells the same story—Telangana is on the rise.”
His words carried the weight of lived experience. He recalled his first visit to Dallas in 2015, chasing investments and hoping to build trust in a brand-new state. “I came here with dreams,” he said, smiling. “Today, those dreams stand tall.” Telangana’s growth numbers are staggering—its GSDP has tripled, and per capita income has crossed ₹3.5 lakh.
But KTR didn’t let the numbers overshadow the human stories that powered them. He spoke of farmers who once battled drought, now harvesting record crops. Of young people whose parents once struggled for work, now finding jobs in Hyderabad’s booming IT corridors. “This is what real change looks like,” he said.
He had a message for the diaspora, too. “You’ve never forgotten where you came from,” he told them, his tone warm but firm. “Now it’s time to give back. Invest in the land that made you.” The response was immediate—a wave of applause that shook the arena.
Politics wasn’t far from the discussion. KTR acknowledged the party’s recent electoral setbacks but dismissed the idea that their commitment had dimmed. “We may have lost a few votes, but we’ve never lost faith,” he said. “We’ll be back in three years—stronger, together.”
There was no mistaking the emotional undercurrent. Every time he said ‘Jai Telangana’, the crowd erupted. For many, it felt like being back home, if only for an evening.
KTR closed by paying tribute to the NRIs who keep Telangana’s culture alive across the ocean. “Your roots run deep,” he said, his words gentle yet firm. “Telangana Thalli is proud of you.” He promised that the BRS would continue to stand by Telugu students in the US, announcing plans to set up a legal cell to help those facing immigration hurdles.
As the celebrations drew to a close, it was clear that the evening wasn’t just about a party’s anniversary. It was about a shared history and a future waiting to be written. “Together,” KTR said, raising his hand, “we’ve proved what’s possible.”
Thank you, #Dallaspuram!
You truly went above and beyond 🙌
The love, warmth, and passion you showed at the Telangana Formation Day & BRS Silver Jubilee Celebrations last evening were simply phenomenal
I’m sure our “Jai Telangana” ✊✊ slogans reverberated back home! pic.twitter.com/EyeYp9FAMA
— KTR (@KTRBRS) June 2, 2025