TJS doors open to all: Kodandaram

​Hyderabad: Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) to embrace all leaders who were part of Telangana agitation and would have political understanding with Left parties. Telangana JAC Chairman Prof M Kodandaram in an interview to The Hans India said that as of now, TJS was aspiring to go alone in the elections. But he did not rule out having an understanding with the Left parties.

“For us, the criterion is the leader should have been associated with Telangana agitation. There may be leaders who want to do something for the public and if they cannot do it being present in a political party, they are also welcome,” said Kodandaram.

On the question of money and muscle power, Kodandaram said that politics was a collective effort to resolve the collective problems. “It is through politics that we have decide what kind of institutions we should have and how the resources are to be distributed. But politics has become an investment-less business, especially post liberation... if you have control over machinery you can get any benefit tomorrow.

Politics has become a self aggrandisement. We should change our understanding of politics. Politics is an endeavour to address collective mission. Needs of every section should be addressed,” said Kodandaram. He recalled how Aam Aadmi Party had achieved success defeating traditional parties like BJP and Congress, which were stronger in terms of money and muscle power.

On the question of cutting into the anti-incumbency votes, Kodandaram said politics means mobilisation of votes. “If the politics is correct, votes can be mobilised. We should tell the people that their aspirations will be fulfilled. If we move in that direction, then people will get polarised and polarisation is what the need is,” said Kodandaram.

When asked about Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao’s question of what the aspirations of the people were, Kodandaram said that the TRS leader should know because he was involved in agitation. Kodandaram asked what had happened to free education, the suicides of farmers, no effort for the betterment of the agriculture, no jobs as promised. Kodandaram alleged that the flagship programmes like Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya were benefiting contractors.

He said that already there was facility for drinking water, but still pipelines were being laid. Similarly, the CAG had pointed out that silt was not removed from the lakes properly under the Mission Kakatiya, said Kodandaram. He further said that the financial assistance of Rs 4,000 per crop would not benefit the farmers. He said that only the land holders would get benefit and about 20 lakh farmers don’t have land in their name.

The JAC chairman said the TJS would concentrate on the expansion and other plans after the public meeting on April 29. He said that an ad hoc committee would be formed after the public meeting and it would decide the party structure including president and future course of action. The party has selected five places for the public meeting. The application for NTR and Saroornagar stadium was rejected as they would be used only for sports purpose.

“We are confident that we would get permission in one among LB Stadium, Nizam College and Parade Grounds,” said Kodandaram. He said that the party was pitching for ‘farmer’s plough’ as symbol of the party.