See how times change. When your stars are on the ascendant, everyone panders to you. But, when your influence wanes, your importance too goes. TRS biggie and Siddipet boss Harish Rao has realised this the other day, when he went to Tirupati to have a darshan of the Lord on Vaikuntha Ekadasi Day.

Moments earlier, TRS working president and the man who is touted to succeed KCR, KTR was in Tirupati. He was received by MLAs Roja and Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and was offered Poorna Kumbham by the priests. He was profusely garlanded and was treated like a true VIP. But, when Harish Rao, also a minister and nephew of Telangana CM KCR, went for a darshan, there were no ViP welcomes. Even the protocol due to a minister was not followed.So angry and peeved was he that he refused to visit the temple.

Finally, the TTD officials had to rush to him and apologise for the gaffe. It was only after that that Harish Rao relented and visited the temple. This incident, analysts feel, is indicative of Harish Rao’s dimming clout within the TRS.