The Communist Party of India (CPI) which is part of Mahakutami alliance under the leadership of Congress party may go independent for Telangana assembly polls. The CPI as strong enough in as many as 12 segments and it will show impact of winning and losing in about 40 constitutions. Based on its strengths, the CPI asked 12 seats in the alliance, but, the leaks of Congress confirms only 3 seats – Bellampally, Vyra and Husnabad.
The Party’s state council held an emergency meeting twice on Friday at its state headquarters Makhdoom Bhavan chaired by the National General Secretary of the party Mr. Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, state secretary Mr. Chada Venkat Reddy and others.
Sources said that the state leadership flayed on the national leaders for not taking initiation in AICC’s meetings in order to demand more seats. Responding to the allegation, Mr. Suravaram told them that the state leadership should deal with the alliances at state level. Following the reply, the state leadership under supervision of Chada Venkat Reddy and others med TDP-TS chief Mr. L. Ramana, TJS Chief Professor Kodandaram, Congress senior leader Mr. Jana Reddy and explained that the party desires two more seats that are Kothagudem and Munugodu. Soon after these meetings, the state committee held an emergency in the evening for second time and declared that the party would contest from 5 seats against the decision of Mahakutami. The leaders informed media that in case, the congress rejects its proposal; the CPI would go lonely in the elections by contesting in more segments.
In a surprising decision, the BJP has announced that it would go along with a newly formed party – Yuva Telangana Party (YTP) – in Assembly polls and political experts are saying that there is a large strategy behind the move of the Amit Shah, the national president of BJP.
YTP, under leadership of National Youth Awardee Mr. Jitta Balakrishna Reddy from Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district, is newly formed party and now is the only alliance party to BJP. Former news presenter, who worked with various Telugu Channels, Ms. Rani Rudrama is the vice president of YTP.
Sources from the BJP said that the party’s high command would utilize YTP for attracting rebels from other parties including TRS and Congress in order to strengthen BJP. “Many leaders from these parties are not showing interest in joining with BJP. The BJP’s high command is planning to join them to the party via YTP. The BJP has already announced its list with 66 candidates and at this moment, alliance with a small party will not show any burden on it as the YTP is binding to few segments like Bhuvanagiri,” the sources added.
The sources said that BJP executive Member Mr. Pradeep Kumar is deputed to gather all the rebels under a roof and to encourage them in joining with either BJP or YTP.
A real estate firm linked to an MP of the ruling TRS in Telangana has admitted over Rs 60 crore as undisclosed income to the I-T department after multiple raids were conducted against it in September, officials said.
The firm, Ms Raghava Constructions, is promoted by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) parliamentarian P Srinivasa Reddy and his family members are partners in the company, they said.
Reddy was elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2014 elections on a YSR Congress Party ticket, but later switched over to the TRS.
The Income Tax (I-T) Department had launched searches at 16 premises of the firm and its executives in Hyderabad, Khammam, Guntur, Vijaywada, Ongole and Kadapa on September 18. The raids lasted four days.
The officials said the department has found tax evasion by the firm on at least three counts by allegedly processing “bogus sale bills” and letting of “sub-contracts to purported fictitious accounts.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) from Khammam, Reddy, however, denied any wrongdoing.
“The I-T Department verification process in the case is still ongoing… Rs 60 crore is not the correct figure. The firm Raghava Constructions is a maximum tax paying company and last year it paid 14.5 per cent tax on its income and before this it paid 12 per cent income tax.
“The I-T formalities are not completed and I cannot say much as of now as I am in the campaign trail in the state,” Reddy told PTI.
Polls to the 119-member Telangana Assembly will be held on December 7.
The officials said the department, during proceedings in the case, recorded the statement of Prasad Reddy, managing partner of the real estate firm, and that he admitted undisclosed income to the tune of Rs 60.35 crore.
“The undisclosed income detected in this case is for various assessment years and the firm has assured it will soon pay the due tax,” a senior official said.
The firm, the officials said, had also executed civil contract works for state government’s schemes like ‘Mission Kakatiya’ and ‘Mission Bhagiratha’ that aims to better irrigation facilities and drinking water supply in Telangana.
The congress may well be pleased to describe the Karnataka by-poll results as an illustration of emerging trend in the country as a run up to 2019. But, any such extrapolation is a sweeping generalization that can ultimately end up as an erroneous assumption. The BJP would like to dismiss the peoples mandate in the by-polls as an aberration caused by local specific factors. Such public posturing may be a political compulsion for the saffron party to keep its morale high. But, any such complacency can prove to be costlier for the ruling party when elections are round the corner.
There are two specific reasons for this. Firstly, despite alarmist predictions, the Congress-JDS combine could not only survive but inflict a humiliating defeat on Modi-Yeddyurappa led BJP, revealing the potential challenge the state level Mahagatbandhans could pose for the NDA juggernaut.
Secondly, these by-elections held across different regions of the Karnataka when seen in the context of similar such by election results in states like UP, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra ,etc since 2014 clearly reveal perceptible shift of voters away from the Modi mania.
Back home in Telangana , the Congress is jubilant as it comes close on the heels of elections. The Congress is trying to stitch together other opposition parties to take on TRS . The Karnataka model where the Congress gave the Chief Minister position to a junior ally is used as an illustration of congress magnanimity towards allies. But, there is world of difference between Karnataka and Telangana . The Congress allies in Telangana are not as strong as JD(S) . The BJP that is facing series of reverses elsewhere in the country is not its opponent. The party has to fight KCR regime, which many reports indicate to be still popular among the electorate. Besides, by-polls and general elections operate on different algorithms.
Yet, the results of Karnataka by-polls certainly enthused the Congress cadres in Telangana. Especially, its critics across the country till recently were busy writing obituaries for the grand old party .Meanwhile, the by-poll results have lot to mean for Karnataka and have a bearing for the country too. The BJP won 17 out of 28 seats in 2014 Loksabha elections from this state. The congress and JD(S) contested separately in 2014.
But, now the overwhelming electoral arithmetic emanating from congress alliance with JD(S) can send shivers down the saffron spine. The BJP is expected to lose 10 to 12 seats if the same situation continues and the two of its rivals fight together.
The BJP was only hoping that the Congress and JD(S) would fall apart soon due to the inherent contradictions within the coalition . Nothing of that sort has happened and the present victories would further cement the ties between two parties and the crisis in the coalition is highly unlikely at least until 2019 general elections.
Besides, the BJP has always been maintaining that it received popular mandate and the Congress -JD(S) combine snatched away the popular mandate by opportunistic alliance. But, the electorate of Karnataka have decisively dismissed this argument by giving massive mandates for the ruling coalition partners.
The BJP suffered huge erosion in its vote. In Shivamogga , the BJP’s strongman won in 2014 by a margin of whopping 3.6 lakh votes. But, now, his son, despite father’s total effort could retain the seat for the BJP by only 52,000 votes indicating a huge swing away from the saffron party as compared to 2014 . Similarly, the congress wrested the Bellary seat from BJP by margin of over two lakh votes defeating the mining mafia in its own bastion. The extent of margins clearly reveal that the by-poll verdict is beyond the advantageous arithmetic for the Congress which means BJP has a lot to worry about as 2019 fast approaches.
( Prof.K. Nageshwar is India’s noted political analyst. He is a former member of the Telangana Legislative Council and professor in the Department of Communication & Journalism, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India )
The Election Commission of India is in plans to attract voters and register the best voting percentage in the upcoming Telangana elections. To bring awareness among the handicapped people, EC conducted a drive in Haritha Plaza, Begumpet. Rajat Kumar along with several handicapped associations and handicapped voters attended the meet. The Election Commission is in plans to arrange special polling booths for the handicapped.
Ten to fifteen thousand wheelchairs will be available to serve the handicapped and several celebrities are in talks to promote this. Each celebrity will promote this in their allotted district. Vijay Devarakonda, Sania Mirza, Pullela Gopichand, VVS Laxman and Goreti Venkanna already gave their nod to be a part of this awareness campaign. Special helplines will be announced to help the handicapped. Rajat Kumar even revealed that special polling booths are arranged for women. Vijay Devarakonda will be campaigning for Mahabubnagar district.
All India Muslim National League general secretary Abdul Ghani has joined hands with the Congress, TDP and other Mahakutami partners. Ghani is a sworn rival of Majlis leaders Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi in Hyderabad city politics.
Ghani has turned friendly to Grand Alliance in order to ensure defeat of Majlis and TRS in next month’s election. He is accusing CM KCR, Majlis Owaisi and BJP of having secret deals in the State to mislead opposition parties. He suspects that BJP leader Amit Shah is not sincere in his criticism of Majlis and TRS.
Swearing support to anti-KCR allies, Ghani has blamed TRS government for deliberately making empty promises to the Muslim minority. There is no commitment to fulfil 12 per cent reservation to Muslims.
Muslim National League leaders are saying that TRS government is extending all facilities and benefits to the BJP leaders. But KCR is not providing enough funds for welfare activities of minority. This is why they have decided to work for defeat of KCR in Telangana. Ghani has visited Gandhi Bhavan and met with Congress observer RC Kuntia to extend his party’s support.
It is known news that YSRCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy was attacked at Vizag airport and currently taking medical treatment and rest. Immediately after the incident, Jagan had taken just a basic treatment at the airport and started off to Hyderabad
ad by air and had complete treatment from his family doctor at Hyderabad. His padayatra came to a temporary halt because of this incident. It might be another 5 to 6 days before he resumes his foot march. However, after the attack, there has been a debate on the security to the opposition leader of the state.
Now Telangana government provided him a bullet proof vehicle and gave him increased security. Police department also gave a statement that security at his house in Hyderabad also increased now. Probably Jagan’s fans might be happy now with the improved security at his residence in Hyderabad. Earlier, AP police also have told, they will provide improved security to Jagan in AP during his padayatra.
We will have to wait and see how will be his padayatra amidst constraints of security.
Now it is almost confirmed that TDP and Congress will have alliance in AP as well in the upcoming 2019 elections. Even though the outcome of 2018 Telangana elections will have an impact on whether to continue the alliance in 2019 or not, it is more or less confirmed that TDP needs alliance with Congress as it has burnt all bridges with BJP already. However, it seems because of this alliance, equations are changing in TDP as well as Congress party as leaders in both party are now worrying about whether they will get tickets or not in 2019.
No increase of seats in AP assembly itself is an issue for TDP:
Already, it has been a troublesome condition for TDP as many leaders from other parties like YSRCP and Congress defected into ruling TDP post 2014 elections, expecting there will be increase of seats in AP assembly by 2019. But that estimation gone totally wrong and now BJP led union government is in no mood to increase the seats in AP assembly. So the revision of constituencies will happen only in 2026 as it was already scheduled. So, until then there will be no increase in number of seats but now TDP, in more than 20 constituencies, has 2 strong leaders – one, who contested but lost in 2014 and the other one – who won on YSRCP ticket and defected into TDP. While adjusting seats to all those who defected into TDP itself is an issue, adding salt to wound, TDP-Congress alliance brought in even more aspirants for the same constituencies.
Now even more aspirants after TDP-Congress alliance:
Now, after the alliance, Congress leaders also want TDP to leave some constituencies to them as part of the alliance. So, for single constituency, now there will be one leader, who is originally from TDP, one leader from YSRCP who defected into TDP after 2014 and one former MLA/MP from Congress party. Adjusting seats is going to be really a nightmare for TDP in 2019.
Specific Examples:
For example, in Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency, BT Naidu contested from TDP but lost it to Butta Renuka of YSRCP. Both of them still aspiring for the same seat in 2019. Now, there is high probability that this seat may actually go to former union minister Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy of Congress, who is actually more senior than the other two and also stronger than them (except for bifurcation effect). Similarly, in Paderu assembly constituency, Giddi Eswari also facing similar issue as Butta Renuka. She also defected from YSRCP into but now former minister Bala Raju from Congress is expecting this ticket. Similarly Pallam raju, former union minister of cabinet rank, Pallam Raju is now expecting Kakinada seat, which he won several times in the past and TDP sitting MP Thota narasimham needs to be adjusted for another seat by TDP supremo. There are several prominent leaders in Congress who are still with the party and they are expecting tickets – like Kiran Kumar Reddy, Kishore Chandra Dev, T. Subbi Rami Reddy etc.
We will have to wait and see how this tough-nut will be cracked.
As electioneering picks up heat, rival leaders are accusing TRS of bringing dishonour to Telangana state. Former Home Minister and senior TDP leader T. Devender Goud wrote an open letter to Telangana caretaker CM Chandrasekhar Rao, asking him to resign from politics instead of bringing disrepute to Telangana state. Goud felt that KCR is damaging reputation of the state by using uncivilised language and behaviour totally unbecoming of a person occupying CM seat.
Goud says it is time for KCR to give up his career in favour of young generation of Telangana who are ready to safeguard the interests of the state. The former minister is unhappy that Telangana state has become some sort of a captive in the iron grip of KCR and his family. He appealed to the people to give KCR a fitting lesson in the December elections.
Remember heroine Reshma in Maruti debut film ‘Ee Rojullo’? She is now all set to enter into politics. She got BJP ticket to contest as MLA from Wyra (Khammam District).
Reshma made her debut in to Tollywood through the film Bodyguard. She acted as one of the friends of heroine Trisha. Later he got role in Ee Rojullo movie. The movie directed by Maruti became good hit among youth audience. Later she acted in couple of movies like Jai Shri Ram but she didn’t get the much needed break. She acted in Tamil and Malayalam too. Her mother was High Court lawyer and father was executive officer in Singareni colleries.
She has been active in BJP party since quite some time and now she got ticket from the party to contest from wyra. She told she will be soon starting the campaigning. We will have to wait and see if she succeeds in politics.
TRS Minister Harish Rao accused Congress of hurting Telangana pride by depending heavily on AP CM Chandrababu Naidu in the present election. Congress leaders are believing strongly that Chandrababu will help and guide them to victory, he says. He addressed a meeting at Gajwel in Siddipet area.
Harish Rao is drawing comparisons from Mahabharat. He says Grand Alliance partners are behaving like Kauravas who were notorious for their evil ways to hurt opponents. But ultimately it is Dharma and righteousness that will win and KCR will emerge victorious in this battle between right and wrong.
Following series of complaints and allegations from the opposition parties and leaders from Mahakutami on phone tapping, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Telangana State Mr. Rajat Kumar on Friday wrote a letter to the Director General of Police (DGP) Mr. Mahender Reddy seeking the details of the leaders whose phones are being tapped.
Meanwhile, the CEO sought answers from the DGP on few other issues. The CEO asked the DGP in the letter that, “What are the criteria for phone tapping? Whose phones are you tapping? What are the reasons?”
The leaders from Mahakutami including Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Mr. L.Ramana, Mr. Chada Venkat Reddy and Dilip Kumar had submitted a representation in this regard to the CEO on Thursday. Meanwhile, the brought few other issues to the notice of the CEO including public meetings at the CM’s camp office, CM’s posters on MMTS trains etc. and the CEO responded positively on their complaints and ordered the respective departments to probe into the issues.
Some problem or the other is troubling BJP in Telugu States ever since PM Modi and Amit Shah tried to put the party in the forefront of electoral battles in Telangana and AP.
For quite sometime, rumours are rife that Swamy Paripoornananda of Sreepeetham will lead BJP campaign in Telangana polls and that his name will be announced as BJP’s chief ministerial candidate to polarise Hindu vote bank in their favour. There is also speculation that the Swamiji will contest from Jubilee Hills assembly segment where Andhra settlers and high society people are present in considerable numbers.
For reasons not known, BJP has not announced any candidate for Jubilee Hills ticket in the recently released list of party contestants. The immediate reason for this is stated to be objections from majority BJP leaders in the State, who don’t want the reins of the party Telangana unit to be placed in the hands of the Swamiji. They want someone from among the long-standing leaders to stay on top in the state and the same has been communicated to Delhi leadership.
Sources say that there are many more serious issues going against the Swamiji. Some leaders have already pointed out that Paripoorna hails from Andhra because of which his entry into Telangana politics will never be acceptable by people and it will cause serious harm to BJP’s interests.
There is also another opinion that leaders like KCR and MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi will not leave any opportunity and they will raise Telangana sentiment against Paripoorna. Such a development will not only hurt the Swamiji’s winning chances but also the prospects of all other BJP candidates in the polls.
Paripoorna was born in Nellore city in AP and his religious appeal may not be able to help him overcome strong regional sentiment. He has already entered political realm by joining BJP in the presence of Amith Shah recently and politicians don’t spare anybody while making criticism.
TRS has already started whipping up Telangana sentiment to get political advantage. Will BJP take such a huge risk in favour of Swamiji at this juncture? It is indeed a nail-biting suspense for next few days.
TRS chief KCR has given tips to the party contestants on how to prepare for the December elections and what are the suggestions to be followed to ensure their victory over rival candidates.
Referring to 2014 AP elections, KCR said Jaganmohan Reddy lost the polls because of his overconfidence and negligence while TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu secured victory by implementing his plans and strategies carefully down to the booth level. All TDP leaders from top to bottom remained on high alert right from campaigning to the polling day and to the day of counting.
Such micro-level planning went into the TDP election management that Naidu got party’s booth level leaders to personally meet and convince party sympathisers and beneficiaries to come to polling booth and cast their vote in the first hour itself. The credit for the success should go to the party cadres who dutifully followed the boss’s orders without fail.
Talking about this, KCR asked TRS leaders to use similar strategies in December elections and make sure party beneficiaries go to polling booth in first hour on the day of polling. Afterwards, focus should be turned on neutral voters and those belonging to rival parties. KCR cautioned his party leaders and cadres against giving any chance for negligence or overconfidence citing Jagan as an example for these failing characteristics.
Only a few days ago, KCR has fired at Chandrababu saying AP CM has caused lot of trouble to Telangana state by creating hurdles in irrigation projects. He used harsh words and unparliamentary language against Naidu at one stage. Now that TRS is preparing for elections, KCR is using the ‘Chandrababu success mantra’ to inspire and motivate TRS leaders to ensure certain victory.
No wonder then that KCR is known for his shrewd and surprising comments to impress and persuade others.
All parties are speeding up campaigning for December elections in Telangana. Rahul Gandhi’s visit yesterday came as a historic opportunity for Grand Alliance partners to show their capacity for a rare show of unity and strength to defeat KCR.
Only Congress leaders were seen along with Rahul who addressed three public meetings at Bhainsa in Adilabad, Kamareddy and in Old City of Hyderabad. As AICC President was there, naturally a lot of media attention was there from every corner in Telugu states. Eventually, only the voice of Congress was heard in these meetings as Rahul and some leaders made serious attacks on KCR and Modi.
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu did not take part in Rahul’s meetings for reasons not immediately known. Sources say TDP was against this because of seat sharing talks not yet completed till now. Congress leaders did not show much interest to get Naidu attend these meetings considering the huge impact it would have on voters.
On his part, Kodandaram rejected Congress’s request for taking part in Rahul’s meetings saying he would do so only after seat sharing talks were completed successfully. His party, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), is demanding more than 12 seats while Congress is ready to give less than nine seats. Sources say TJS issue is going to be a serious problem which will be difficult to solve.
Even CPI leaders are unhappy as Congress has offered to give their party just 2 to 3 seats. CPI senior leaders Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy and Chada Venkata Reddy and others held an emergency meeting when they decided not to accept Congress offer. If needed, the CPI will contest the elections alone. It will walk out of the Grand Alliance.
TDP leaders are presently silent on the number of seats they are going to contest. In the beginning, TDP leaders said their party should get at least 15 seats because their party candidates won in 15 segments in 2014 elections. Congress has also not talked about the seats being offered to TDP. According to sources, TDP may get 10 to 12 seats.
Because of this deadlock in seat sharing, Rahul’s public meetings became a single-party affair. Congress Telangana leaders have failed to realise the mistake they have committed by not ensuring the presence of Grand Alliance leaders at these meetings. Now a clear message has been sent to sympathisers and voters that Congress is failing to play its role of big brother effectively.
During his recent visit to AP, BJP leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that Congress will crush any party or leader who will join it for various reasons. He made these remarks in the context of Chandrababu Naidu supporting Grand Alliance in Telangana. If Congress fails to keep Grand Alliance working now, then Rajnath Singh’s words will be more true than ever.
CPI has already decided to break away from Grand Alliance if it is not given good number of seats. Next follows Kodandaram who has already threatened to see that TJS will contest alone. Kodandaram’s team has grabbed considerable attention because of their strong anti-KCR stand and because of their party being born out of agitators for the cause of Telangana statehood.
Congress is not the only party to be blamed in this episode. Kodandaram should have realised the historic need for giving a show of togetherness and unity for giving a tough fight to KCR and family. TJS is comparatively a political novice with far less presence at the grassroots than their leaders are projecting. TJS agitation cannot be compared to the one that was led by KCR and his Telangana Rashtra Samithi prior to the formation of separate Telangana state.
An impression is created that Grand Alliance is not actually an easy alliance between the partners. If these partners fall apart at this juncture, it will certainly spoil their dream of ousting KCR from power.
Muslims account for over 12 percent of Telangana population and form decisive voting in several constituencies across the state with concentrated presence in old city of Hyderabad. The Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed election eve public meetings in Bhainsa, Kamareddy towns in north Telangana and Charminar in Hyderabad old city. The Congress selection of these places for the first leg of Rahul’s campaign in Telangana elections indicate a clear strategy to woo Muslim vote. Bhainsa and Kamareddy also have a significant Muslim voting. Charminar area of Hyderabad is the heart of MIM bastion. The Congress has already declared that ‘vote for KCR is vote for Modi‘, a strong message to the Muslim electorate.
Several constituencies in Telangana especially, the urban ones have sizable Muslim voting . Such districts include undivided Mahabubnagar , Karimnagar , Nizamabad , Nalgonda, Adilabad etc. The TRS has a better image in the rural areas due to host of welfare schemes. The congress perhaps believes that urban seats are more conducive for them to win. Focus on minority vote would further bolster its chances, a congress leader remarked.
The TRS has an open understanding with MIM. KCR publicly announced that MIM is his ally and there will only be friendly contest against it. These so called ‘friendly’ contests are an attempt to divide non-MIM vote. The TRS is likely to field Hindu candidates in MIM strong hold to effect division in anti-MIM vote . The Congress while in power played a similar trick as it had an undeclared understanding with Owaisis.
The Congress government earlier implemented four percent reservations for Muslim and thus enjoys a positive image to this effect. KCR has also promised 12 percent reservation for Muslims and a request to this effect is pending before the centre. The congress intends to focus on the non implementation of this promise.
KCR has delinked assembly elections from Parliament elections by resorting to premature dissolution of state legislature only to ensure Muslim vote in his favour as anti-Modi narrative shall dominate 2019 polls. There is also intense speculation in the political circles that MIM may even join KCR cabinet if TRS falls short of majority. At the same time the political grapevine also says that TRS may join the BJP led NDA post 2019 if the saffron party falls short of numbers or even otherwise. All this depends on post poll arithmetic both at the centre and the state.
Meanwhile, the BJP has roped in Swamy Paripoornananda in a clear bid to attract Hindu vote through anti-Muslim rhetoric. The BJP president Amit Shah has exhorted the voters of Telangana to elect BJP to ‘liberate’ Telangana from MIM clutches. The BJP is likely to focus its attack on KCR ‘s bonhomie with Owaisis and the Congress alleged Muslim appeasement politics. Barring the city of Hyderabad , the MIM failed to win any seat in Telangana . In fact it never attempted to do so and helped the party in power with which it always has an overt or covert understanding. In fact, the MIM has significant wins in local bodies elections in the past like in Karimanagar , Bhainsa etc. The TRS now and the congress in the past never tried to penetrate into Owaisis strongholds in return for the MIM’s tacit support elsewhere in the state. Thus, in the wake of bifurcation of the state, Muslim vote seems to have become a crucial one in Telangana electoral arena.
( Prof.K. Nageshwar is India’s noted political analyst. He is a former member of the Telangana Legislative Council and professor in the Department of Communication & Journalism, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India )
In Telangana polls, KCR is trying hard to score one point after another over Grand Alliance partners. He announced contesting candidates for 105 out of 119 assembly segments long back while Congress is yet to complete seat sharing talks with Grand Alliance partners.
Now TRS chief is all set to kick off his Assembly Segment-wise campaign along with the already announced candidates with full clarity and focus.
For this, KCR is holding a day long meeting with 105 candidates whose names are already confirmed for contesting on TRS tickets.
As part of this, he got surveys conducted in each segment and this generated lot of heat among not just opponent camps but also inside TRS party. KCR’s original plan is to find out strengths and weaknesses. And, then to prepare segment-specific strategies and implement them to ensure certain victory.
Based on these surveys, KCR has got an idea of how to go about making last-minute strategy changes in order to get a winning edge to the candidates. The respective candidates will be given information on campaign materials and publicity.
In two to three days, KCR will kickstart his assembly segment-wise electioneering with his managers drawing up plans to cover two to three segments per day. TRS chief is going in a jet speed to move forward his campaigning while Grand Alliance is busy making Rahul’s public meetings a grand success.
As a result, Congress cadres are relying on success of Rahul Gandhi’s tours to boost their party prospects while TRS cadres are resting all their hopes on KCR’s mercurial leadership.
Amita Shah, BJP’s National President, is stated to have decided to choose a popular Swamiji to lead the party’s campaign in Telangana elections. For a long time now, the party wants to bring in a spiritual leader with social activism to strengthen itself in South India like how it did by taking services of Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh.
Against this background, Swami Paripoornananda of Sri Peetham fame has come as an immediate choice before BJP leadership considering his widespread connections and his active involvement in socio-political discourses in Southern States. The Hindu monk has also become popular in Telangana after his banishment from Hyderabad by KCR government following his exchange of inflammatory statements with film critic and dalit activist Kathi Mahesh.
Kathi Mahesh was also banned from Telangana capital for his statements against Lord Rama and perpetuation of casteism in Hindu society that were considered to have hurt the sentiments of Hindus leading to social tensions. Paripoornananda threatened to take out a rally to Kathi’s home, which raised temperatures in Hyderabad at that time.
Now, Paripoornananda is invited to meet Amit Shah in Delhi for a second time in past two months. There are already rumours and wild speculation that the Swamiji is a strong choice for BJP to go ahead with its plan to polarise voters along religious lines and draw greater support to the BJP in coming days. Amit Shah is expected to announce Paripoornanda soon as CM candidate for Telangana polls.
BJP’s strategy may change campaign direction altogether in December election.
Are Andhra settlers not yet accepted as Telanganites in Telangana state? The question comes up whenever CM KCR wants to bring it up and whenever he makes elaborate speeches to draw boundaries to all these settlers on how to live, what to do and what not to do in Hyderabad and rest of the state .
These indirect anti-settler words of KCR become more eloquent around election season expectedly that he sets his sights upon the vote bank politics that are bound to fuel Telangana sentiment.
Now, KCR advises Andhras not to worry about their identity or future. The settlers just need to behave like Telanganites so that they will not face any problems in the state, he says. But he doesn’t come straight to the point as to what exactly Andhras should do in order to get Telangana identity. It is because he can’t explain that point in detail as it may sound unparliamentary or unconstitutional.
Probably, KCR may accept Andhra settlers as fellow Telanganites if they vote en bloc to his TRS party in every election. We know elections are held in Telangana as per whims and fancies of KCR. So every now and then, settlers are put to test whether they are behaving like Telanganites or not.
KCR’s comments against Andhras never fail to create magic among his vote bank communities. As long as TRS contests elections, the issue of settlers and Telangana sentiment will not die down. And, this won’t give any scope for development and other issues to dominate poll scene. Rival leaders of Congress and TDP have no choice but to make unrelated and personal attacks on KCR and his family rather than question them on developmental issues.
Settlers belonging to Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions are called Andhras usually. In united AP, Andhra leaders had the opportunity to rule mostly because overall size of these two regions is far more than Telangana. There are 175 assembly constituencies in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra put together but there are only 119 seats in Telangana.
After state division, there is no way a sub grouping like Andhras can ever aspire for political power in Telangana ie from 2014. Yet, KCR is raising this issue, speaking in a subtle manner like “Andhras may continue here. They should act like Telanganites”.
Lakhs of Andhras settled in Hyderabad just because it was capital city of united AP for over six decades. No Andhra politician ever guessed that Telangana would become a reality. Those leaders never bothered to think of problems that settlers may face if Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema are separated from capital city. Congress dared to separate them and it had bitten the dust in AP and not able to rise in Telangana.
Now, Andhra settlers do not have a single safe alternative to vote for in December polls. They cannot vote for Congress as it divided the state unscientifically. They cannot embrace BJP as it is continuing legacy of injustice towards AP. TDP is not an immediate choice since this party is eliminated from the race to power in Telangana.
Coming early polls pose a huge challenge for Andhra settlers. They can do nothing except remain as silent spectators to the poll show.
The chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Ms. Sonia Gandhi would visit Telangana on October 27, 2018 and the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) is yet to decide dais for a massive public meeting. Sources from the TPCC told ‘Telugu360’ that Sonia has agreed to visit TS on 27. “Congress Chief Mr. Rahul Gandhi has already agreed to visit Hyderabad on October 20, 2018 and we are planning to organize public meeting at the historical Charminar. As per the schedule, he should also visit TS on 27, 2018 and as it was cancelled, Sonia agreed to take part in the campaign. She will visit any two places in Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Nallagonda, Suryapet, Warangal and Karimangar districts” the sources added. They said that the dais will be decided after Vijayadashami festival.
