Lessons that TRS failed to learn

This is with reference to the report 'Lotus blooms as pink pales (Dec 5). The GHMC elections have sprung no surprise results but on expected lines. These are early warning bells ringing for the TRS and the AIMIM whose combine had won 99 (55 TRS and 44 AIMIM) seats cumulatively which is exactly the same TRS's last tally of 99. The BJP's 48 seats to AIMIM's 44 seats are actually up by 44 seats to their 4 seats tally last time. What has been loss of the TRS has been gain for the BJP.

The result of this election throws an entirely frightful scenario for K Chandrashekar Rao and his party. First the BJP stunned them in Dubakka by-poll, which was supposed to be stronghold of the TRS and now the GHMC. It proves beyond a point that mainstream voters are shifting from centrist position to more rightist position. This election has made no great dent into the AIMIM base which remains largely intact. Fence sitters or highly neutral voters have eaten from the BJP's hand and day is not far when the TRS shall feel the heat in next Assembly elections.

The TRS which is suffering from incumbency factor on one hand and in the other hand its rank and file and leaders have turned highly complacent and prone to corruption. Intent and purpose of the government may be good and many a public welfare schemes are passed for the general good but real devil lies in their implementation. Money is swindled by the middle level functionaries and what it percolates down to rightful claimants is peanuts. The government should not only to ensure good schemes, but also work out micromanagement to oversee that it reaches to last person standing in the queue.

The GHMC results have emboldened the BJP who has taken full advantage of TRS's alliance with AIMIM. The BJP has changed the narrative by what it knows best. Through vote polarisation. BJP leaders hammered a point that vote to the TRS is a vote to the AIMIM, which has cascading effect on centrist and fence sitting voters. Neutrals are always looking for reasons other than what party loyalists who wears blinders to their eyes.

The BJP beside drumming up growth and development agenda, seeped through fault lines caused by the TRS and the AIMIM alliance. Citadel has been penetrated and now it is a matter of time, either it fights back or goes under. Chandrashekar Rao's charismatic personality notwithstanding, he has to reinvent himself and his party and cannot afford to be living on past laurels. Even people pulled down Mujib Rehman who fought and carved Bangladesh out of Pakistan. The GHMC election results have given equal reasons to the AIMIM for worrying and contemplate. Their kind of politics is giving more space to the BJP and may use them as 'vote cutters' in the times to come. Their loudmouth leaders were busy instigating rank and file of the TRS party with some baseless claims. Thus, may lead to mistrust and split them from making any worthwhile alliance.

Chandrashekar Rao has tested waters and he still has a lot of time in hand to understand and reinvent the party by infusing in it a sense of purpose and reaching out to masses. Easier said than done, Rao needs to have some spring cleaning and rebuilt bridges with the masses and banish all corrupt leaders who have gathered around him for some droplets of honey only. The party cannot be aloof to the ground realities and live in fools' paradise forever. There is a knock at the door, reading on the wall and one can ignore them at one's own peril.

Ashok Goswami, Mumbai