Chanting NTR to silence TDP

‘Don’t underestimate Guddu’ goes an advertisement of a mosquito repellent. Taken under the longer canvas, this reaction of the boy in the advertisement holds relevance and application in various spheres of life, including in electoral battles. What matters, eventually, is the strategy that is employed and not the physical appearance of an individual. They can make or mar any prospect.

This is exactly the formula which K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) seems to have adopted in order to blunt impact of political attacks against the government’s policies and programmes. Blessed with oratory skills, he never misses out on opportunities to launch verbal surgical strikes.

The impact is instant. While the political adversaries run for cover, such virulent barbs strike a direct chord with the audience. But then being a shrewd politician, KCR does not remain satisfied with this.

He understands that a single strategy would not yield the desired results time and again. He has to not only effectively showcase his government’s achievements but also get a feel of the pulse of the people, which invariably depends on the performance of the legislators and ministers.

There is always this possibility that the people may like KCR personally and back his policies but may not favour the party representatives in their area. Such a stance against an individual may affect the party prospects at the hustings if the person is nominated as a contestant.

It is precisely for this reason that he has been getting frequent surveys done so as to be in a position to assess the ground situation. But again KCR does not want to purely depend on these survey reports. It is therefore crucial that he understand the people’s pulse at a more personal level.

This is why KCR has now embarked on district tours in the name of inaugurations and foundation stone laying ceremonies. He is not worried about Siddipet but the focus seems to be on constituencies like Nalgonda where the Congress party is still fairly strong and the Left parties can also cause damage to the pink party.

Just as KCR worked out a strategy before the GHMC elections to win the hearts of people from Andhra Pradesh who form a major part of voters in areas like Kukatpally, this time he is trying to win over the politically potent Kamma community that has been the backbone of NT Rama Rao, N Chandrababu Naidu and Telugu Desam party as a whole.

Having been integral to the party till he broke away, the TRS president knows the ins and outs of their internal functioning. During his address at a public meeting in Siddipet last week, he invoked the name of NTR and said, "Exactly 30 years ago, I submitted a petition to then CM N T Rama Rao with a request to create Siddipet district.

I am happy that it is happening when I am the State Chief Minister. I am a true son of the soil and it is the region that has given me everything. Siddipet has been with me all along my struggle for separate statehood. I was worried when I had to move from Siddipet to another constituency, but young Harish Rao allayed all my fears by developing it tremendously."

He claimed that smaller districts will help in effective monitoring and implementation of welfare schemes. Officials will be able to pay attention to the development of each and every poor family in a smaller administrative set up. One should not miss out the calculated manner he brought one specific point, which is close to the heart of everyone from the district.

He mentioned about his petition to NTR but did not actually comment on whether the actor-politician had either accepted or rejected the plea for a Siddipet district. By this statement, he has tried to cash in on the NTR factor as well as take full claim for the vision he had three decades back when he never even thought of a separate Telangana.

Perhaps the opposition parties which are still focusing on old methods like poru yatra or dharnas or satyagrahas should rework their strategies if they really want to make their mark in the next elections. They should also realise that, in the meantime, KCR would be working out his own blueprint.

By V RAMU SARMA