Surveying the odds across Telangana

Holi has come a day early for the BJP, thanks to its colourfully exuberant showing in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, the festival of colours has raised political heat in Telangana State with all parties plunging into introspection mode.

Each is pondering over the political strategies they need to adopt to swing the political pendulum their way in 2019. Normally political parties start commissioning surveys a year ahead of elections. However, this time around the survey trend has already been set in motion across the State.

The Telangana Congress party was the first to have a survey done, the findings of which have been brewing internal trouble. Though it had created some disturbance initially, things seem to be settling down as the AICC has made it clear to the rank and file that the survey was taken up on the advice of the party high command. It has also helped in invigorating the cadre to a considerable extent.

The state leadership is now gearing up for holding series of agitations against the unfulfilled promises of the government. In fact, the manner in which the Congress party extended its support to the TDP members A Revanth Reddy and Sandra Venkata Veeraiah who were suspended for the entire session for disrupting the Governors address shows that the party is now trying to enlist the support of all opposition parties and play the role of Big Brother in the House.

This was followed by survey, at the behest of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on the performances of MLAs of all parties. This has expectedly caused ripples in the party. All these days, most of the party leaders were of the opinion that the promises made by the government and the welfare measures it claims to be implementing would help them score an encore at the hustings.

Armed with the survey findings, KCR made it clear that he would employ the ‘perform or perish’ syndrome while evaluating each leader’s performance. Lamenting the party vulnerability in 40 constituencies, he sent a message that no one can presuppose the prospect of getting a party ticket. This comes even as KCR is readying for Round Two of ‘Akarsh’ which is tantamount to a veiled poaching exercise.

Taking cue, the Telangana unit of the TDP is taking up its own survey. The party has been the worst hit after several of its top leaders turned turncoats after the 2014 elections. Its loss was the TRS gain. In the past even though some leaders left the party it did not lose cadre, which today stands badly eroded. With the propping of second rung leaders having back-fired, the party is facing an unprecedented leadership crisis. It also does not have a master strategist.

The party boss N Chandrababu Naidu made it clear to the T leaders that it is for them to chalk out a road map and improve their position in the next elections. With new districts having been carved, the TDP is now in the process of identifying young leaders who could at least give a fight in the elections.

On the other hand, the Telangana unit of the BJP, which was dormant till the other day has sprung to life with the rejuvenation coming courtesy of the UP and Uttarkhand showing. The party central leadership has made it clear that now the target of BJP would be Southern states. It may not be Ab ki baar Modi sarkar here but the party which has good cadre in TS is all set to go aggressive.

The state leaders have been asked to prepare constituency-wise reports about the local issues, the promises made by the government, the funds released by the Centre for various developmental activities and to what extent they have been utilized. Based on these inputs, the BJP high command will chalk out an action plan, claim State leaders.

By V RAMU SARMA