The proceedings have hence led to the speculation that he may have put on hold his plans to float a federal front before the Lok Sabha elections and might even go for an alliance with the BJP, but post the elections.

Local news portals also noticed that post his recent meeting with the Prime Minister, there is a visible change in his approach, and that after returning to Hyderabad, he has advised key leaders and officials to focus on policies which could win the hearts of the public during this crucial period. An indication has been given that development programmes have to be completed by November this year.

The news of early elections being a possibility was floating earlier this year as well. In February, Sunday Guardian had reported that the Telangana CM along with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart had welcomed the proposal of holding simultaneous Assembly and general elections made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, they were later miffed at the rejection of their long list of demands for funds for projects and schemes, and so it was not clear if they would still go ahead with consent for the proposal. KCR is understood to have told his MPs to back the proposal but insist on securing funds to the state.

The KCR government in Telangana has taken up some flagship programmes like Mission Bhagiratha (supply of drinking water to all households) and distribution of cash to farmers, and completing them before polls was important.

In fact, last week, India Today had listed out, in a report titled ‘Evergreening the Electorate’, the number of programmes being executed in a hurry by the state’s Irrigation minister, as per the Chief Minister’s wish. Some of which were: a Rs 5-lakh insurance scheme for farmers, irrigation to farms, uninterrupted electricity supply and investment support. The Telangana irrigation department has sought Rs 675 crore in central monies under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Projects (DRIP) to modernise 34 dams. Central government support is also expected to renovate 28 irrigation utilities in the state.

It will be remembered that KCR’s had tried even earlier to extend a hand of friendship to Modi for some time now. In March last year, a report had pointed out that in the preceding 33 months – and after setting aside the bitterness of the 2014 poll campaign -- TRS government maintained cordial relations with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

There were also reports then that TRS may join NDA government, and KCR’s daughter K Kavitha may get a cabinet berth, neither of which were denied by the TRS. The report called KCR a “master strategist”, saying that he was playing cards close to his chest.