ANALYSIS OF MAHAKUTAMI IN YSR BLOG

[Keets]

Telangana is a large issue. It affects the lives of 8 crore people of Andhra Pradesh. One expects our political parties to take a considered view on such an issue. But in fact, how consistent have our political parties been? I invite readers of my blog to judge each of the parties in the fray now.

TRS: In 2004, the TRS was all fire and brimstone. They would have nothing to with any party that stood for a united Andhra Pradesh. The CPM was a red rag to the TRS, and the abuse Mr Chandrasekhar Rao heaped on Mr Chandrababu Naidu is now legendary. Today he is in a coalition with those very same parties. Actually, the Mahakutami is not a coalition; a coalition works together on the basis of a common minimum programme. What is the common minimum programme of the Mahakutami on Telangana?

CPM: In 2004, it was implacably opposed to a separate Telangana. The TRS and the CPM were so opposed to each other that we, as their seat-sharing partners then, had to conduct separate talks with them because they did not want to be seen in each other’s presence. The CPM continues to oppose separate Telangana but sees no contradiction in being seen together with the TRS in the Mahakutami. CPM and TRS leaders today join hands and joyously raise them in the air to signal the unity of Mahakutami. What unity is this? What is its purpose? CPM leaders openly say the Mahakutami is not a programme-based coalition, but just a seat-sharing device. I ask, what kind of a coalition is this that dares not speak its name?

CPI: The smallest member of the Mahakutami has vacillated from feeble opposition to separate Telangana in 2004 to feeble support in 2009. The only thing that can be said with certainty about the CPI vis a vis Telangana is that it will do nothing to make it happen. If Telangana comes of its own volition, it is for it. If it does not, then so be it. What kind of politics is that?

TDP: In five years, the TDP has traveled from one end of the spectrum to the other. In 2004, it was the most vocal Samaikya Andhra party. Today it says, without carrying much conviction, that it is for separate Telangana. While it wants dividends from such a stance in Telangana, it is also worried about the price it will have to pay in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.