Hitting two birds with one stone…

Frail in physique, perhaps, but determinedly strong in terms of temperament that gets blended with a steely resolve that remains unshakable! Any guesses who such an individual could be in contemporary times? Well, in his own words that is precisely how Telangana State Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao described himself.

That description comes with an extension. “I don’t listen to anyone once I take a decision. I not the kind to go back on promises made.” Thundering thus, Rao made a slew of announcements in an hour-long interaction with the media just prior to the elections for the workers union of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL).

That diatribe helped serve two purposes in one go-he not only convinced the voters but effectively silenced the opposition, whose well-orchestrated united fight was thrown asunder. It was no big deal then that the TRS-led SBGKS stormed to power as did the parent body when Telangana State went for its first ever Assembly elections.

There was an encore from KCR soon after the landslide was announced. He launched another 60-minute bashing that drove all the opposition leaders to the wall. Today when one reflects on the two vociferous attacks, and tries to understand their timing, it becomes clear that Rao was merely playing out a well-planned strategy. With SCCL under the belt, it is time for the next big challenge that is lurking in the corner.

There is a distinct possibility that the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat is likely to fall vacant, sooner than later. Quite naturally that would imply another by-election for the political contenders from the State. Given his penchant for being battle-ready, the Chief Minister is learnt to have got yet another survey done.

The findings indicated that barring in some Assembly segments of Nalgonda, the popularity of TRS continues to be high as the people were satisfied with the overall performance of the government. However, the survey has sounded caution as there is a feeling among the people that the government was slow in the implementation of the two bed room housing scheme and distribution of three acres land to landless poor. It is generally presumed that the government has failed to meet the targets whatever be the reason.

The million-dollar question is why has the government wishing to assess its standing in Nalgonda Lok Sabha constituency considering that it is merely poised for a by-election? There is a distinct possibility that he did wish to be caught unprepared in those Assembly constituencies that are represented by TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy and his wife, K Jana Reddy and the formidable Komati Reddy siblings.

It is being perceived that the elected representatives have been gained high points from the people in those pockets. Notwithstanding these hurdles, the TRS still enjoys an edge in the Lok Sabha seat equation. In the backdrop of this situation, the Chief Minister made some very strong comments against some of these important leaders and targeted the TJAC chairman Prof Kodandaram, Uttam Kumar Reddy and veteran Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao.

The district tour of the Chief Minister is also part of the strategy to ensure that whatever setbacks they suffered would be addressed. Subsequently, KCR will attempt to take full advantage of the short monsoon session of the State Assembly and pre-empt every opposition onslaught. If the opposition falls to the trap laid by KCR wherein he accused them of trying to scuttle people-friendly initiatives of the government, then TRS would be served advantages on a platter. Quite naturally, KCR would blame them as parties which did nothing when in power and were not able to digest the good work being done by TRS.

BY V RAMU SARMA