Politics makes strange bedfellows indeed! In Telangana, where the phenomenal rise of the erstwhile Telangana Rashtra Samiti had eclipsed the Telugu Desam Party, things have changed dramatically in the last couple of months so much so that the Bharat Rashtra Samiti’s plans for national foray has given elbow room for the TDP to make a comeback, whether on its own or riding piggyback on the ascendant Bharatiya Janata Party.
After TRS reemerged as BRS with the declared purpose of emerging as a formidable political force at the national level, there has been a feeling in some circles that there is scope for ‘inclusiveness’ on the part of the once region-specific party. Telangana has previously targeted Andhra Pradesh, holding rulers of AP origin solely responsible for the plight of Telangana as it stood before attaining statehood.
The TRS has always maintained that AP rulers had exploited Telangana, which had been forcibly merge with then existing Andhra state. The long-cherished dream of Telugu people’s own state became a reality on 1 November, 1956. Despite the initial agitation for separate Telangana state in 1969 and people’s mandate in Lok Sabha elections of 1971 in support of the separate state, the then Union government headed by Indira Gandhi rejected the demand for separate states.
In 2001, K Chandrasekhar Rao, a trusted lieutenant of then chief minister K Chandrababu Naidu, started the erstwhile Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS) on 27 April, 2001 in ‘Jaladrudhyam’, house of the leader of Telangana movement Konda Lakshman Bapuji with the singular purpose of attaining statehood for Telangana. Despite having only two members in the Lok Sabha subsequently, TRS got full credit for achieving a separate state with people’s support though ruling UPA led by Congress. People of Telangana reposed confidence in KCR and gave him the first chance to rule India’s youngest state. TRS managed to win the hearts of the electorate again in 2018.
Today, KCR, in his new avatar as head of BRS, is eyeing support from non-locals i.e. Andhra people. This means he or BRS can no longer afford to fume at ‘Andhra leaders’ who had ‘betrayed’ the interests of Telangana region. This changed atmosphere across Telangana gives elbow room for the Telugu Desam Party to put out green shoots again.
Now circumstances have changed with the emergence of BRS. Striking while the iron is hot, the TDP has taken a plunge in TS to regroup its moribund unit in the state. TDP started off with a rally at Khammam, though it does not have a single MLA or MLC. TDP is convinced that, given BRS’ national ambitions, there would be no hurdles for TDP’s reemergence in Telangana.
TDP has been approaching its former leaders who had joined TRS in their quest for greener pastures. “We had no option left except joining TRS, if only for the development of our constituencies,” was the stock reply of its former MLAs. TDP may not as yet nurture hopes of coming to power in Telangana; yet, it can hope for a sizeable number that can be vital in the eventual numbers game!
TDP’s relations with BJP are considered the most important thing in the changed situation. The TDP has a soft corner for BJP in Andhra Pradesh and is thinking of forging an alliance with BJP and Jana Sena Party of film star Pawan Kalyan to ensure the defeat of ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in the 2024 elections. It may be useful for BJP to have an alliance or otherwise ensure support from TDP in Telangana as the latter is competing with Congress in taking on KCR. Sailing with BJP in both Telugu states may be useful for TDP. In AP, it also has the compulsion of preventing Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy from getting closer to BJP.
