KCR and TRS: Can we trust them?

AbdulMuqtadir Syed / Headlines / 111 Comments

KCR recently said “Padhi yenlu Telangana kosam kaki lekka thirigina”, in some context which was reported in news.  It is a great idiomatic expression. One should see a crow’s panic and its efforts when its nest or progeny is offended. It will not rest till the threat is warded off. I could recall the images on the TV from Nizam’s hospital when he broke his fast sobbing in joy, with Prof JayaShankar putting his palms on KCR’s head in appreciation and affection, and I thought what a disappointment Chidambaram’s retraction could be to him. I thought I should recap his saga for Telangana, as people dole out unsolicited advice and estimates without getting the facts right. Someone hurls an advice that he should go to the villages and campaign, someone says he should club with all Telangana vaadulu. Gaddar questions him “what have you done for Telangana udyamamu”. Some liberals say that agitation should be under the leadership of SC, ST, and BCs. Some question his rationale of presenting memorandum to SKC.

Some of these questions arise due to ignorance, egos and interests; some are due to lack of understanding or belief in his methodology or modus operandi; some of these are due to taking reality in too simplistic a way.

Telangana had seen two significant uprisings. The first was in 1945-51 lead by Communist Party of India to rid the area of landlords who initially were supported by the Nizam and then by the Government of India. The second was in 1969-71. There was a major effort in Telangana agitation of 1969 for the formation of Telangana. Many sacrificed their lives in these struggles.

The third uprising is under KCR/TRS. It is true to the times and different in manner and process. It is totally non- violent; not a single shot was fired; not a single Andhra was assaulted. It is constitutional and through the legitimate political process. Let us see what happened in the last decade or so.

In 1997 NDA declared in its resolution that is for separation of Telangana. In 1998 it went to the election with a slogan that ‘one vote and take 2 states’. In 1999 BJP retracted on this promise for the sake of alliance with TDP.

In 2001 within 6 weeks of formation TRS entered Telangana electoral fray as a major player, making sure that the election can only be a triangular fight.

In 2002 TRS has demonstrated its strength through bandh on Dec 27th and other activities.

UPA was looking for alliances to match Powerful NDA. It also wanted to keep it flock together from defecting to TRS.

In 2004 TRS made Congress declare that there are many valid reasons for formation of Vidarbha and Telangana. However, Congress put a bind that the issue is better addressed by 2nd SRC.

In 2004 TRS won 5 MP seats and 26 MLA seats, 6.8% of the overall vote in AP and 16% of the vote in Telangana Parliamentary constituencies vote share. TRS joined central cabinet and Telangana formation was included in the common minimum programme of UPA. KCR tried to get the goodwill of UPA for the formation of Telangana by dropping out the cabinet- to- be; just being a cabinet minister without portfolio.

KCR saw to it  that in The President’s address on June 7, 2004, included a statement: The government will consider the demand for the formation of a Telangana state at an appropriate time after due consultations.

TRS had a setback in municipal and local body elections as these elections involve local issues. (I could not get the vote share statistics)

In 2006 KCR resigned from Karimnagar seat, challenging Congress that it is a referendum on Telangana. He was reelected with massive majority.

In 2008 TRS MLAs and MPs resigned as Congress was not introducing the bill into the parliament for formation of Telangana state, although BJP was ready to support it.

In the by-elections in 2008 it won 7 MLA seats and 2 parliament seats and this was a set back. (Vote share?)

In 2009 TRS joined a grand alliance and won 2 parliament seats and 10 assembly seats with 6.14% of total votes (MP seat vote share in AP). If adjusted to percentage of Telangana vote as it is an exclusive Telangana party, it polled 15.35% of votes out of total polled votes in Telangana in Parliamentary constituencies, which is not different from the voting percentage of 2004 (16%) although the seats are less. Votes do not always translate into seats as we do not have proportional representation system in India; contrary to the layman’s thinking. It is the propaganda of Congress, TDP, Andhra elite and the press that TRS lost out in 2009.

In 2009 December, 11 days of KCR’s fast triggered students agitation and forced Central Government to consult all major parties who consented to the formation of Telangana state and Chidambaram announced initiation of the process of formation of Telangana. The rest is contemporary (current) history.

KCR’s thinking, methodology and strategy behind these events are:

* With initial successes of TRS, it can persuade and tempt the leaders of other parties that promising Telangana is likely to provide them with access to a valuable vote bank, which will significantly increase these parties’ chances of electoral victory. KCR successfully implemented it.
* His plan was to get sufficient seats to hold the balance of power at the state and/or center level that would allow the party to bargain with the potentially ruling coalitions for a commitment to Telangana statehood. He could succeed in this significantly.

* KCR thought that success of TRS empowered supporters of Telangana statehood within other parties will force their leaders to support separation, which we have witnessed.

* KCR calculated that Success of TRS threatens to lure away separatist supporters and leaders from other parties, forcing those parties to support separation to avoid their departure. As we know this did happen.

* KCR knew that ,by fasting he can unify virtually all people in Telangana and it  will trigger agitation and raised the intensity of demand for separation to such a level that peace and tranquility is threatened, forcing the government to concede separation.

Wily opponents of separation developed strategies to thwart the possible implications of TRS’s electoral success for separatism. Hence they started the vilification campaign; unfortunately some Telanganites also joined it. KCR was aware of this and he matched his moves accordingly

He has run the battle very adroitly so far. Nobody needs to teach him how to run this campaign. I believe that he is a maestro in modulating his offensive. Uninitiated cannot understand the meaning of his statements. I challenge that,  anyone without the benefit of hindsight can prove that he should have run the campaign differently. The next phase of the battle will be more tumultuous. We need his courage and repertoire of skills.

TRS and KCR is the alter ego of Telangana. They represent the embodiment of Telangana aspirations. He is our totem, our mascot. Their defeat is our defeat.

If you can understand why the rich and mighty among the Andhras hate him, you will not criticize him, but follow him.

With insight into why Andhras want to prove TRS has lost out, you will understand why you should support him.

If you make out why Andhra elite want to prove that he is corrupt you will understand the need to rally behind him.

Let us decode why they criticize KCR as ‘mukku na koduku’ criticizing his nose and we will understand why he is such a great asset to us.

If you analyze why they are obsessed about him, you will understand that they calculated that if KCR is finished, Telangana sentiment is finished as well, and there is no one to steer Telangana through this gauntlet.

Unfortunately some rhetorical Telanganites also think that if KCR is sidelined there are many to take his place. But mark my words, in history, Chanakya like KCR comes in rarely. I am an avid observer of politicians and a history enthusiast. He reminds me of Ho Chi Minh who carved out Vietnam from the grip of French. He reminds me of Hemu who ruled Delhi for 5 years during Moghul era and is rated as Napoleon of Indian history. He was a veteran of 22 battles, leading from the front, but unfortunately India lost him at the crucial juncture, or else Indian history would have been different. Let us not loose KCR; if we do not seize the moment along with him now, we will have to wait for another generation.

Let us all rally behind him!!

P.S:

KCR announces to attend the meeting of Dalit Mahasabha at Vijayawada to turn the heat on. KCR’s strategies are intuitive and matchless. This is going to be the news for the next fortnight.

Let us all rally behind him!!

Thanks M K Rao for sharing

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