By keeping options open, KCR hedges all his bets

In times of uncertainty the best strategy is perhaps to keep all options open. Both at the Centre and in the divided Andhra Pradesh, this seems to be the game-plan of most players.

By doing the expected — reject a merger with the Congress — the Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) has precisely done this. With its groundswell of support in the wake of statehood for Telangana, the party has pitchforked itself to playing bigger roles in the State and a post-poll alliance at the Centre. TRS President K Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR), adept at sensing the pulse of the people, cleverly put the onus of the ‘no merger’ resolve on his party cadres, saying he was bowing to their dominant wishes. From being a party leading a struggle to achieve Telangana, TRS now wants to transform itself into a strong political party and take up the task of building Telangana, he claimed. Though, at best of times (2004) the party had won 24 and four seats respectively of the 119 and 17 in Assembly and Parliament, it is confident of winning a majority now.

Having said this, KCR has kept the option of an alliance with the Congress open, again with riders like being a senior partner in the Assembly elections. With both the Congress and the BJP competing to derive political mileage from the bifurcation, the TRS has the luxury of winning their favour anytime, depending on exigencies, pre-poll or post. KCR’s stand is pragmatic in the AP political landscape, given the merger experience of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) founded by Telugu megastar K Chiranjeevi. Though his dreams of coming to power did not come true in 2009, the PRP won a decent percentage vote across the State and bagged 18 seats in the Assembly. By agreeing to merge and save the Kiran Kumar Reddy-led Congress Government, all that it benefitted was a Union ministry for Chiranjeevi and a couple of State ministers. But, the PRP has lost its steam and Chiranjeevi’s hopes of being the last CM of a united AP also were dashed recently.

With this stark example and the prospects of a 10 year anti-incumbency perception going against the Congress, both in the State and the Centre, the TRS chief’s move is not very surprising. A large section of the TRS also argued that a merger will help the TDP and the BJP make inroads into Telangana.

KCR openly tried to distance himself from the ‘merger’ clamour, saying the Congress had never taken his party into confidence in decisions related to Telangana.

On the contrary, it has not fulfilled some of the TRS’ demands — such as not giving some villages in Bhadrachalam (due to the Polavaram project) to Seemandhra, and special status for Telangana.

As anticipated, State Congress leaders shot back, accusing KCR of going back on his promise. Leaders like Jana Reddy, D Srinivas and Madhu Yaski said the party is strong enough to fight alone and win. On an optimistic note, the party can take solace in assuming that post-elections, the TRS’ gains may well turn into its own advantage.