Padayatras always scare ruling parties!

SNCN ACHARYULU
Hyderabad

Why are padayatras in both Telugu states becoming controversial? Why are state governments trying to suppress padayatras? Are ruling parties getting scared about padayatras thinking that they can become a ‘game changer’ during Assembly elections? These are the questions in the minds of the public in both the Telugu states.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has no experience in organising padayatras. But Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is experienced in organising them.

In fact, padayatras are not new to Telugu states. In united Andhra Pradesh the late Chief Minister, YS Rajasekhar Reddy, showed the way to political leaders by conducting a three-month-long padayatra covering 1,475 km meeting people across the state.

Later, TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu also conducted a padayatra for 208 days covering 2,800 km. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy also conducted a padayatra and created a record. Jagan’s padayatra lasted 341 days and it covered 3,648 km.

Interestingly, after their padayatras, all the three leaders, YS Rajasekhar Reddy, N. Chandrababu Naidu and YS Jagan came to power and became Chief Ministers.
Meanwhile, in Andhra Pradesh Amaravati farmers are conducting a padayatra and TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh also has decided to launch one.

In Telangana, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar has launched a padayatra in a phased manner. YSR Telangana Party President YS Sharmila is also conducting a padayatra. TPCC President Revanth Reddy is also planning a padayatra.

In Telangana, Sanjay’s padayatra has become a controversy after it was stopped by the police and he was arrested. Sharmila was also arrested by the police after a clash between TRS and YSR Telangana Party workers in Warangal district.

Warangal district has a history of blocking padayatras. In 2008, when Chiranjeevi toured Warangal district as the President of Prajarajyam people threw eggs at him demanding that he reveal his stand on the Telangana state issue.

In 2010, when Jagan conducted his ‘odarpu yatra’ he faced threats that his convoy will be attacked. Later, Jagan cancelled his yatra in Warangal district.Recently, when TS BJP President Sanjay conducted his padayatra in Warangal district it created tension after a clash between TRS and BJP supporters. In Andhra Pradesh, the state government forcibly stopped the padayatra of Amaravati farmers.

Earlier, padayatras used to be conducted without any hurdles by political leaders, but now permission from courts is needed for organising padayatras.When ruling parties start creating hurdles to political padayatras they become controversial.There was a common opinion among the public that ruling parties are unnecessarily giving importance to padayatras by creating hurdles.

Due to this opposition leaders are getting public sympathy and ruling parties are drawing flak. If ruling parties have confidence in their performance what can happen if opposition parties conduct padayatras, asked a senior politician.He said that the attitude of state governments regarding padayatras exposes their distrust.