TJAC stand on polls on Apr 18

• May seek boycott of TDP, YSR Congress
• Reshuffles its steering committee

Hyderabad: The Telangana JAC has put off its decision on the stand to be adopted on upcoming elections to April 18. Although it has not announced its stand officially, sources said that TJAC will urge people to shun Telugu Desam and YSR Congress parties. At the same time it will also ask the public to identify the betrayers of the movement who have got tickets in the remaining pro-Telangana parties and ensure their defeat in upcoming elections.

The steering committee of the TJAC was held at TNGO Bhavan on Monday in which presidents of district units also took party. In view of a few TJAC leaders taking to politics, the TJAC made a re-jig of its body; C Vittal was elevated to post of co-chairman while G Deviprasad was named as the convenor.

TJAC asked all its members including representatives to express their opinion on the political stand to be adopted by it. There was a unanimous view regarding call for boycott of Telugu Desam and YSR Congress for belittling the aspirations of Telangana people in the last five years. Although the role of TRS, BJP, Congress and CPI in attainment of the statehood dream was recognized, some members expressed reservations over allotment of tickets to the betrayers of Telangana movement.

It is understood, some district JACs explained the awkward position wherein some of these parties fielded the very people who worked against the movement. Supporting such leaders would defeat the very purpose of the spirit of the movement. After hearing views of everyone, TJAC decided to take views of some more stakeholders and then announce its final decision.

Since TJAC will perform the role of a watchdog in the future, members almost made up their mind to keep the organisation ‘apolitical’ from here after. Since statehood goal was achieved, it does not make any sense to keep on board political parties, which will have their own agendas.

JAC also decided to up the ante for safeguarding the interests of Adivasis whose life has been endangered because of the controversial Polavaram project. If need be, TJAC will highlight the issue at the national level.

Speaking to reporters, TJAC chairman Prof Kodandaram informed that a few associations had expressed their interest in joining the organisation. He said a decision would be taken very shortly. T Venkatesham, N Prahlad, Venkat Reddy, Danakarna Chary and Gyaneshwar will be the co-convenors. K Raghu, Mohd Hamid Khan will be the official spokespersons.

Meanwhile, TJAC co-chairman Mallepalli Lakshmaiah appealed to the government to do a re-think on Polavaram project. He informed that JAC would sit down with Adivasi groups in this connection in Khammam on April 16 to decide on the future course of action.

Deviprasad and Vittal said that they would be meeting Governor and Kamalanathan committee regarding injustice being meted out to Telangana employees in distribution. They criticized laying emphasis on nativity as the sole parameter for distribution of employees instead of options. They demanded that political parties spell out their stand on the issue.