Congress strategy in Telangana

Revanth Reddy’s defection is like giving a lifeline to Congress, contrary to popular perception that he has jumped on to a sinking ship. As the dust he raised in political circles is settling down, it is increasingly becoming clear that neither the former TDP leader nor the Telangana Pradesh Congress is naive.

Both Revanth and TPCC have a common agenda – to dethrone Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) from power in the 2019 Assembly elections – with different goals. While it is interesting to watch the political churning in the Telugu states, what is more interesting is the way Congress leaders are playing their cards vis-a-vis Revanth’s one-man show.

Since he walked out of the TDP cradle, Revanth has never criticized his former party or its supremo Chandrababu Naidu. On the other hand, he is making no bones about his admiration for the AP Chief Minister. Even in his resignation letter, Revanth was all praise for Chandrababu and his family. In part, he said, “you have treated me as one of your family members and stood by me in my struggle.”
Once again, he paid his respects to Chandrababu at a meeting of his supporters and some leaders (all from TDP) at his Jubilee Hills home on Monday, saying “he (Naidu) is my role model.” His target, both in his resignation letter and in public utterances is TRS and KCR and his family members. Calling on the people to free Telangana from the ‘despotic rule’ of KCR clan, Revanth said, what is at stake is “four-member KCR kin versus four crore citizens of state.”

Revanth’s agenda is obvious: He doesn’t want to burn his boats though he crossed the river. His heart seems to be still with Telugu Desam although he joined hands with Congress for political expediency. The emerging situation points to the fact that a sizable number of TDP cadres would follow Revanth, swelling Congress ranks in Telangana that would benefit the party in 2019. Since Telugu Desam, which has lost its foothold in Telangana long ago, can’t revive its fortunes even if it bolsters its presence, is likely to give Revanth tacit support to defeat TRS.

This is where the interests of Congress, in the dumps after bifurcation, and Revanth coalesce. But the point not to be missed is their bonhomie will last as long as they have a common purpose. But ties can sour when Revanth and his supporters start flexing their muscles as a group within the Congress.

The old guard within the party is already unhappy over Revanth’s entry as their importance is diminishing and a new wave of youth leaders (most of them from TDP ranks) will send the aging leaders into oblivion.

In a way, that is what the central Congress leadership wants. With Rahul Gandhi set to become party president and his stress is on young blood, the old generation has to make way for the youth. In Telangana, Revanth coming into Congress fold will also serve that purpose.

More importantly, Revanth is trying to revive ‘the spirit of Telangana’ by calling on the students of Osmania University to launch an agitation against the TRS government. Already, OU cauldron is boiling over unfulfilled promises made by KCR before and after the formation of Telangana. With Prof Kodandaram, who was at the vanguard of Telangana agitation, spearheading protests against the state government on various issues, on the side of it, Congress hopes to regain its lost strength. With Kodandaram and Revanth on its side, Congress feels to have got a booster shot.