TRS, Third political force in state

- D. Vishnumohan Rao

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), though born just three months prior to the conduction of elections to the local bodies, had emerged as the third alternative political force in the state.

The achievement of 75 Mandal Parishads, Nizamabad Zilla Parishad and over 1000 MPTCs is not an ordinary fete in itself. The commitment and dedication of TRS founder leader and former deputy speaker can be traced in every inch of its success. In spite of the lacuna of not having contestants with money, muscle power in all the nine districts of Telangana region, TRS was able to make it. The whirlwind tour of Chandra Sekhar in a helicopter brought the results parallel to the effort.

All the adverse comments made by the Telugu Desam Party supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on TRS and its founder went impasse in the Telangana wave. People of the Telangana region expressed solidarity and extended all the support to TRS in these elections. The results, favouring a party that was born just three months ago, can be compared to that of those achieved by Telugu Desam Party founder N T Rama Rao. NTR could do it with his celluloid charisma, but with out such ‘attractions’ Chandra Sekhar Rao really showed results.

If we superficially look at the background of Chandra Sekhar Rao, he was associated with ruling Telugu Desam since its inception. He was a senior minister in TDP governments. Chandra Sekhar won from Siddipet Assembly constituency in 1999 with profuse majority as a TDP contestant. Everyone during that time was of the opinion that he would be offered a berth in the cabinet. With the implementation of Women Reservation, as it was said to be, Chandra Sekhar missed the berth in a narrow margin.

Since then, Chandra was gruelling on TDP supremo Naidu. Chandrababu Naidu smelling the status of Chandra bestowed him with deputy speaker’s position. Instead of appeasing, the deputy speaker’s arrangement irked Chandra further more. One fine day, Chandra bid farewell to TDP and its deputy speaker’s positions holding the flag of Telangana Rashtra Samithi and raised the slogan (of course, it was as old as Andhra Pradesh) ‘separate statehood to Telangana.

No from Chandrababu turned Yes for Chandra Sekhar

At the Telugu Desam Party ‘Mahanadu’ organised in Visakhapatnam on May 27 and 28, Chief Minister and TDP President Chandrababu Naidu’s dictum as ‘NO’ for separate statehood to Telangana region, added fuel to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Obviously, Babu’s ‘No’ turned out to be a ‘Yes’ to Chandra Sekhar Rao. With the success of public meetings convened by the TRS in Telangana districts and Rao’s declaration in public to sacrifice his life for the cause of a separate Telangana state, tables turned.

Leaders of the region irrespective of their party affiliations started dissipating from their parties heading towards TRS. The crossing of floor by the leaders, political, student, employees, labour, and trade unions strengthened TRS to an extent. Then Rao floated the scheme of hoisting party flags in villages, mandals and districts of the region. Gradually, it gathered the courage and strength to win the sizeable constituencies.

Naidu always supplemented for Rao’s success

During the canvassing and other campaigns for the elections, none of the opposition parties of the state dared to criticise or mudsling either Chandra Sekhar Rao or TRS directly. Some of the parties dubbed Rao as power monger politician. Every party in the scrimmage, including TRS censured the ruling party.

Telugu Desam leadership, to mention Naidu heavily came down on TRS as well as Rao directly on every occasion they had. Region voters were annoyed to the ‘standards’ maintained by the Chief Minister during the campaign and the result was, in majority of the districts of the region, Telangana, voters put their ‘Swastik’ (voting mark) consent for TRS.

Unique role of youth in strengthening TRS hands

The youth section of the region took the Telangana Rashtra Samithi to be a political stunt for power. After TRS Praja Garjana at Karimnagar created an impressive note in Telangana region, youth, student, unemployed, teachers, lecturers and other youth driven associations and unions joined hands with TRS. The impact of youth could be noted very strongly when the founder declared his decision to participate in the local bodies election.

Youth tightened its belt. A unique feature of the youth participation for the cause of TRS was that they spent from their pockets.

Key factor was that they spent from their pockets for the cause of TRS. Rao should acknowledge this segment of the society for the success in 75 Mandal Parishads. The Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), said to be sibling of BJP, though supported all other issues did not extend its solidarity to its parent body as it rejected to register the seriousness of the Telangana issue.

However, with the timely God sent assistance that added to the whirl wind tour of Rao in a helicopter and the efforts of all the party men, Telangana Rashtra Samithi could make its presence felt as a third political force in the state. Now, it is a test of time whether TRS can strengthen its position or not. Political analysts predict that it would strengthen to a magnification in the Telangana region.

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