Telangana By Elections

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) might blame people of Telangana by saying that people could not understand their strategy. Andhraites may feel happy at the by-election results. But what went wrong for the TRS?

The reason for failing TRS is because Chandrashekar Rao’s unilateral decisions and the party was made into a family affair, party insiders admit.
Chandrashekar Rao never bothered about cadre and leaders nor he took up any mass movements to resolve the problems plaguing the region. “He was never committal to the problems of Telangana,” a party leader commented.
Right from the beginning, the party was more of a family affair. First it was T Harish Rao who was brought into the politics and now it is KCR’s son Rama Rao. Majority of party’s main leaders are either belong to KCR family and the remaining posts were awarded to his `Chemchas.’
“Leave alone taking the party ahead as a mass movement, KCR runs the party show worse than any other political party,” a party insider said.
KCR claims TRS is not a political party but a movement oriented party but he behaves like a true politician. “KCR failed to take up a strong movement against Pulichintala or Polavaram project nor implementation of GO 610 or diversion of Godavari waters. All that he did was issuing harsh and strong press statements,” the source said.
Those who were initially with the TRS and associated with the Telangana movement for long have left the party long ago. Many leaders left protesting against the policies of KCR. Sincere Telanganites left the party after knowing the true colours of KCR.
KCR’s attitude added fuel to the fire and many deserted the party. Telangana protagonists like Gade Inniah, Medak MP Ale Narendra, veteran leader Desini Chinna Mallaiah are to name a few. Narendra was reportedly forcefully shown the exit door just for KCR to dominate the party affairs, party leaders say.
Even intellectuals like Professors PL Vishweshwar Rao, Purushotham Reddy and several others too parted ways with KCR.
Party observers also question the manner in which the party tickets were given to the candidates during the 2004 elections. Those who dumped money were given tickets and the party leadership did not consider the background and sincerity of the candidates in giving tickets.
Historically, students from the Osmania University have been providing life to the separate Telangana movement since the 1969 agitation died down.
But, KCR neglected the students of the region. Majority of students from Osmania University, who initially supported the TRS, later distanced themselves away from the party’s student wing, TRSV, and formed other outfits with separate Telangana as slogan.

Venkat.K