Hyderabad, June 20: “Behind every veil there lies a secret and behind every statement of a politician lies a conspiracy”
The
resounding and overwhelming victory of YSRCP in the just concluded
by-polls once again brought the Telangana issue into the fore with the
issue being subjected once again for exploitation from unexpected
quarters this time around.
While,
it might be normal for pro-Telangana parties to declare that the
results of by-polls once again reflected the strength of Telangana
sentiment, the statements of T G Venkatesh and Erasu Pratapa Reddy, both
hard-core anti-Telangana protagonists, in New Delhi on Tuesday that the
recent by-election results seem to be in favour of separate Telangana
has sparked off both a surprise and a new debate. Such statements came
from leaders who never spare an opportunity to take umbrage at Telangana
movement.
Is
it a change of heart from the two hard-core anti-Telangana
protagonists? Or is there some strategy behind their sudden turnaround
on Telangana issue? Or is it a sign of changing political scenario of
realignment of parties in the state?
The
two Rayalaseema politicians while presenting their assessment of
by-polls to Vayalar Ravi, AICC election observer for AP reported to have
observed that the Congress suffered electoral debacle because of its
refusal to take a stand on Telangana, at a time when most political
parties had been able to firm up their stand on Telangana. They even
went on to opine that the Congress cannot any longer afford to
dilly-dally on the issue and it must take a clear stand. And in what was
more surprising on their part that they even went to distance to say
that it was difficult to argue in favour of united Andhra Pradesh, when
most of the parties were in favour of a separate state for Telangana.
It
is to a certain extent a big turnaround from those leaders who had been
opposing Telangana tooth and nail. Though, it is very early to jump off
the gun to say that it is indeed a welcome change of attitude from the
hard core integrationists to find a solution to the long standing issue,
one cannot be termed cynical, if one looks for a calculated and well
thought out plan behind the pro-Telangana statements from hard-core
anti-Telangana protagonists of Rayalaseema for whom the word ‘Telangana”
is synonym with ‘Allergy”.
It
may be recalled here that TG Venkatesh was in the forefront to campaign
in the by-elections that a vote for YSRCP would lead to the division of
state and was responsible to make the issue of united Andhra Pradesh an
election issue. The campaign of likes of TG Venkatesh and others gave a
complete control to the derivative traders of politics like TRS and
YSRCP to dominate the political space.
And
as such, the results have given an opportunity to pro-Telangana parties
to launch a campaign that the by-poll mandate clearly indicated that
seemandhra people were not opposing the separate state for Telangana.
The acerbic statements of leaders like TG Venkatesh and Lagadapati
Rajagopal has created a tragic situation for the Congress in which it
has become a pre-paid connection that is needed a daily recharge.
Having
given an elbow-room to YSRCP in Seemandhra region, the Congress is now
left to seek means to check the popularity of the fledgling party.
Till
the other day, the Telangana issue has been serving as a blank cheque
to demonstrate its political utility to parties like BJP and TRS. It has
been political milch cow to these parties. It appears that even the
anti-Telangana leaders have sensed that the issue can be turned into a
cliché for political battle to checkmate parties like YSRCP in
Seemandhra region.
Therefore,
the statements of anti-Telangana protagonists that they cannot argue
anymore for united Andhra Pradesh are nothing but an effort to undertake
a vicious campaign to create a sense of feeling among Seemandhra region
that any decision in favour of Telangana by the Union Government is
because of YSRCP. At the same time it is to embarrass YSRCP on its
stand on Telangana, so that it can be projected as betraying the rights
of Rayalaseema people.
The
statements are tactical moves to come to terms with YSRCP in Seemandhra
region. The emergence of YSRCP in Seemandhra and strong Telangana
sentiment are no doubt two major factors that have been causing
sleepless nights to the Congress high-command.
The
arrest of Jagan and the charges of corruption hardly made any impact on
the by-polls and unlikely to change the predicament of the Congress in
future. If at all Jagan is convicted on the charges, the consequences
would give space for TDP in Jagan’s absence. Any which way, it would not
benefit the Congress in Andhra region.
This
leaves Congress to concentrate more on Telangana region. A situation
has arisen in the state when a separate Telangana cannot be delayed on
the grounds that it would hurt the party in Seemandhra. Telangana or no
Telangana, Seemandhra leaders and people are ditching the party by
appearing to be shifting their loyalties and affiliations to YSRCP.
The
drubbing in the by-polls it appears might force Congress to go any
length to revive its political fortunes at least in one part of the AP;
even it means “Division of the state”.
Congress
has been tackling Jagan’s support base in Telangana since that hasty
and inconsiderate statement on 9th Dec’2009 and once again by raking up
Telangana issue and attributing reasons for appearing to take a decision
on Telangana to the emergence of YSRCP. This could help Congress to
spread a vicious campaign against YSRCP. Any pretence of conceding
Telangana would also embarrass YSRCP, as it is obliged to state its
stand on the issue. A yes for Telangana from YSRCP would give enough
fodder leaders like TGV to launch a scathing attack and to heap all the
blame on YSRCP on hurting Rayalaseema rights. This way they can paint a
wrong side YSRCP in Rayalaseema.
This
may be a last ditch effort the Congress to save itself at least in one
part of the AP State. A vicious conspiracy is on unveil to once again
cash through the "BLANK CHEQUE" called Telangana.
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