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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