Lost (Last) Hope

Election – 2014 has given simple majority to the BJP for the first time to rule the nation.  The Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed in 1951 and later transformed as Bharatiya Janata party could come to power on its own only in 2014.  It took 63 years for the party to gain peoples’ faith.  Lal Kishan Advani had been the president of the party for three terms and a total period of about 12years.  He could not become Prime Minister for his hard-line ‘Hindutva’ agenda and Atal Behari Vajpayee had become the consensus candidate for Prime Ministership when NDA had mandate in the Parliament in the years 1996, 1998 and 1999.  In 2004 general elections L.K. Advani was the president of BJP and was presented as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate and in 2009 being in the role of opposition leader in the Parliament had become natural choice for the top post.  Unfortunately BJP could not capture power in the Centre.    

In the history of Indian democracy this is the first time that a single party other than Indian National Congress had the mandate of the people to form government.  Also after 1984, this is the first time that a single party is able to form government in the Centre without the help of other national or regional parties.  Probably people have realised that ‘coalition dharma’ is making the nation insecure and lives of the common people miserable.  When BJP had become single largest party under his steward ship and formed government with help of other parties (NDA), Shri. A.B. Vajpayee was elected as leader of the Parliament.  This election 2014 was the only hope for octogenarian BJP leader to become Prime Minister, his most cherished dream.  From the beginning of 2013, when Shri N. Modi is declared as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate in 2014 election, Shri. Advaniji expressed his dissent publicly more than once.  As a BJP man who worked for the party and wanted it to come to power on its own strength is a happy but could not appreciate the efforts of NaMO.  His dream of becoming Prime Minister remains unfulfilled.

Shri. Advaniji had said that he cried three times in life.  Once when India was divided and Pakistan is formed in 1947.  Second time when emergency was lifted in 1977 he cried with happiness.  Now in 2014 he has tears in his eyes.  He wanted to see a day when his party would come to power on its own strength and himself as leader of it for all the efforts he had put in for decades.  The reason for tears in 1977 is happiness.  In 1947 what could be the reason other than sorrow and loss.  His native place had become foreign to him.  And now his tears probably express his happiness for his party has come to power but overwhelmingly sad as his aspiration to become Prime Minister of India will never be realised. 

Will there be any possibility of him becoming President of India and enjoy power as the constitutional head of the nation?    

Lucky Winner

Indian democracy as usual stands gigantic in this world.  People are always hopeful and want to work towards change that can change their lives.  Election – 2014 is unique as the two contending parties had declared their leader, future Prime Minister if the party comes to power.  The oldest party which ruled the country for almost 60 years had young reluctant leader with little experience in governance.  The other party had the ambitious leader with a track record of development and good governance.  Both the parties have their set of mismanagement of a critical situation resulting in bloodbath targeting a particular community.  The issues have become old to the younger generation which is looking forward to move ahead for progress.

Congress party has faced its first ever worst debacle.  The party burdened by corruption and inefficiency wanted to project its candidate as Young Mr. Clean.  Castigating the other party for its ‘Hindutva’ leanings did not benefit them.  All the criticisms against the other Prime Ministerial candidate have boomeranged.  Mr. Narendra Modi had tactfully dealt with it making him more imposing.  In addition his development of Gujarat story has swayed the youth in his favour.  Arvind Kejriwal who had given some hope to the people a few months ago lost faith for failure to govern Delhi.  The colossal blunder he made by resigning as Chief Minister of Delhi will haunt him for many more years. 

In fact, in these elections people had little choice.  They had to elect either a man with ambition and enthusiasm to make India a developed ‘Hindustan’ or a novice who appears always busy in revival of party and bask in the glory of family ‘martyrdom’ and without any vision for progressive India.   Now Mr. Rahul has at least a decade to develop his ancestral party from grass roots and become a seasoned politician with vision.

 Congress leaders in Telangana are unable to understand reasons for their debacle in the state.  They thought that once Telangana is given they will win all seats in Telangana.  Few leaders, who took part in Telangana agitation and part of JAC for sometime, had later followed their high command’s command and withdrew from JAC.  None of the ministers ever bothered to protect the agitating students from illegal arrests. Instead they got students, who had done ‘dharna’ or ‘gheraod’ them demanding their resignation to their posts in support of Telangana, arrested. The Congress leaders or Ministers never protested Kiran Kumar Reddy’s vile statements in Assembly or Press conferences after CWC announced positively on formation of Telangana.  When youth committed suicide aspiring for Telangana none of the Congress leaders showed any concern, neither the leaders in the Centre addressed the Telangana student community or youth to not to commit suicide as the process of Telangana is on the track will be finished in due course and Telangana for sure will be reality in the future.  The unsympathetic, arrogant, dictatorial acts by the local leaders and comments trivializing Telangana issues by some Central leaders and stoic silence by the Prime Minister and Sonia G had hurt Telanganites and that is expressed by vote. 

Few leaders who won could be due to the good they have done to their segments in the past.  The few seats gained by TDP are because of the ‘settlers’.

In the democracy people do not vote just by listening to what the contestants or leaders say at the time of elections.  They evaluate them from the day they won.  Their activity/programmes/governance that has effect on their life in the past few years is not forgotten.  This is like internal assessment.  And when they contest again considering all these the party or person is given the ranking.

 The lucky winner in these elections is the ‘power star’.  Few weeks before elections he established a party.  His party's second meeting in Vizag was not a success.  He never contested nor anybody from his party.  But his party has become part of NDA.  His campaign resulted loss of votes to BJP in Telangana.  The TDP-BJP combine win in Seemaandhra had made him a star campaigner close to Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister elect of India.

Rahul G Smiles

Image source - Google images

Smile.  It adds beauty to the face.  It shows that the person is at peace and ready to accept things as they are.  It is also an expression of readiness to hear the opposite person’s views.  At times it may be deceptive and hide malicious intentions of the person.  Whatever a person feels at the time of smiling opposite person always feels pleased and encouraged to interact cordially. 

Rahul G smiled; it is obvious in his eyes.  His acceptance of defeat of Congress in the recent Elections - 2014, is graceful.  His statement was simple.  But his broad smiles and body language simply revealed his happiness.  The rout of Congress made him happy?!   Or being out of pressure to become Prime Minister?  Or that at least now the Congress party will realise that ‘Gandhi’ name is not a guarantee to win elections and force him to take up party responsibilities in future?

If the party exempts him from forcible leadership he can marry his girl friend and lead a happy family life. We can think so many reasons behind Rahul G’s pleasant smile.  Only he knows the truth.

The Vote is For....

Another few hours for the Election – 2014 results to be out.  The party which is favoured by the media and corporate houses and declared to win in exit polls is readying to form government.  The other party has not given up hope and is ready to accept the peoples’ verdict. 

Many factors have played role in the outcome of this election.  This election outwardly carried on like the presidential election in USA.  But the healthy enlightening discussions on the prevailing conditions of the nation and the partys' stand or methodology for progress of nation were missing.  One party harped on the family heritage and family ‘martyrdom’ rather than the achievements by its governance.  The other party talked of development by one person of one state to be extrapolated to the nation by capturing power in the Centre.  The person has become bigger than party and symbol of decisiveness and development.  During the past ten years people have seen a Prime Minister who appeared to have taken up the highest post in the nation as job and loyal to his appointee.  The social media also has put forth vast information regarding the personal and social details of important contestants in this election.  The present generation of first time voters supplemented with information on social media and ground realities of systematized corruption and criminality with unresponsive government had to choose a person promising development with creation of employment.  The new generation wants opportunities for employment and not happy with the doles and freebies. They have little choice. 

Whichever party wins Indian democracy should thrive as a secular nation with inclusive development of all Indians.

                                        

                                          **********************************

  The results of local body elections in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh have surprised everyone.  Those feared routing were happy to gain secure positions and the party thought to win had to lie low and wait for Assembly results.  The poor show of TRS in the local body elections could be due to the supposed alliance/ later merger of the party with Congress.  But later when it was declared to contest individually and KCR had taken up intense campaigning the result could be different.  May be there is secret understanding between TRS and Congress to contest Assembly and Parliament elections separately to prevent advantage to TDP-BJP.  As the surveys had predicted win for TRS and no gain for Congress, the triangular contest had led to loss of votes to BJP working in tandem with TDP.  Few more hours to know who will form the first government in the newly formed state of Telangana.  

Election Campaign - 2014

Tomorrow – 12^th May will be the last day of polling.  Yesterday the campaign has ended.  This Election – 2014 is conducted in nine phases, extending for more than a month, is the longest in history of Indian Elections.  The largest democracy in the world this time had more than 80 crores voters.  This is the costly election as per the expenditure by the election commission and also by the candidates splurging huge amounts in their campaign.

The election campaign this time had been the worst ever campaign focused mostly on self aggrandizement and mudslinging on the opposite party and contestant.  None of the senior party leaders or Prime Ministerial candidates ever talked about how they will tackle to free the nation from corruption and put it on the track of development.  Poverty alleviation and employment creation had not been an issue.  The talk of development is about one state and that state has deplorable human welfare indices.  In a country like India with diverse geography and culture no one model will be applicable to all states. 

During the election campaign every contestant and party spoke about the wrong doings of the other parties and contestants.  This exposed all the contestants and parties’ character and principles.  The worst trend that has appeared in the present election is challenging the Election Commission after flouting election code.  If this is the trend setter it is worrisome for future elections and democracy. 

In the past many elections there was some choice to select the party or candidate.  In the present it is difficult to understand who belongs to which party and to choose between a business tycoon, power maniac politicians and persons with criminal backgrounds.  There is little choice.  But Indian democracy is vibrant and the collective decision of half a billion people will surprise the world.

Telangana Votes

Telangana State has formed.  But it is still on paper and has not come into existence.  The appointed day is 2^nd June.  By then the election results will be declared.  The party forming the government in the state of Telangana will define the future of Telangana.  Telanganites and all parties in Telangana are very anxious about the election results and their future.

It is a fact every Telanganites know in their heart that TRS as a political party had played key role in the pressurising all the major parties in the state and Centre to declare their stand on Telangana.  Except for CPI (M), all political parties in the state played double game.  When Telangana has become a reality every party wants to claim itself as playing a major role in its formation. 

Congress says, though it may lose in Seemaandhra it had taken the risk of passing AP Reorganisation bill creating Telangana state.  In fact, Congress knew that it was losing to YSRCP in Seemandhra.  To get votes in Telangana it has to fulfill its election promise of 2004 and 2009.   Under the influence of SA MLAs and MPs Congress passed the Telangana bill with many provisions benefiting SA. Congress people say that declaring Hyderabad as part of Telangana and its revenue to belong to Telangana, overall granting Telangana is boon given by Sonia Gandhi to the people of Telangana.  Telanganites strongly believe that Telangana is not given by anybody, it is not a boon, it is a democratically achieved right by peaceful agitations under the guidance of KCR/TRS and TJAC and sacrifices of hundreds of youth.  During the course of agitations, Congress always tried its best to suppress the agitation with police force.  None of the Congress leaders ever assured of formation of Telangana and tried to prevent suicides of youth.  After all the sacrifices, it wants to claim votes for formation of Telangana.  Telangana women can’t forget the delay and silence of high command when their kin died.  Yes, if it hadn’t been for Sonia G’s insistence Telangana could not have been possible.  But Telangana has to be formed sometime as there is a political party to take the struggle forward and people’s TJAC was working in tandem with it.  Because of the delay it caused in passing Telangana Bill, imposing governor’s rule in Hyderabad, providing extended employment and educational opportunities to SA is working against the Congress' electoral gains.  

In the initial stages BJP was favoured by Telanganites.  Sushma Swaraj’s promise in Hyderabad to help formation of Telangana and her speech in parliament on the issue of TG has won many hearts.  But in the final stages, when the bill was being introduced the high drama created by Venkaiah Naidu in Rajya Sabha and different deceptive statements by Sushma Swaraj and others did hurt the people in the region.  Finally the alliance with TDP which tried its best to stall the introduction of the bill made Telanganites to lose its soft corner for BJP.  The speech by Modi in Hyderabad in the past and two days ago has left bitter feeling.  His statement that, if Sardar Vallabhai Patel had not taken up police action they would have had to come to Hyderabad after taking a visa. This reminded YSR’s statement in 2009 - after the voting was over in TG in 2009, YSR in his election campaign has said they need to take visa to Hyderabad if Telangana is granted.  In Telangana this man said that he would abide by Centre’s decision on Telangana and he is not against formation of TG state.  Another factor is that Modi had forgotten that people of Nizam’s dominion wanted to join Indian Union and cooperated with it to get rid off Nizam’s tyrannical rule.  When they could get rid of Nizam they are very well capable of getting rid of any other tyrannical rule.

The most hated party in TG is the TDP.  Chandrababu Naidu, the party president is the main director in creating dramatic resignations and violent agitations in SA after proclamation by the Home Minister of India that the “process of Telangana formation is initiated”.  CBN personally declared that he blocked TG formation during the regime of NDA when three new states were formed.  How can people forget his two eyes, two sons, and two halves of coconut theories?  When by-elections were held in Warangal, in one ward where the corporator belonged to TDP, the votes for TDP was just one.  That single vote could be of the corporator.  Even his family members did not vote for TDP.  The same situation may be repeated in this election too.

YSRCP initially said that it is not against TG; later its president took U turn and stuck to Unified AP state.  He gave up his party in TG.  He, for sure, lost TG votes, but strengthened his position in SA.  He secured his win over CBN who could not win hearts in either regions – TG and SA.

JSP and JSP have come up recently.  KK Reddy believed people around him when he was Chief Minister.  His anti TG statements as chief minister of AP had resulted in suicides in Telangana.  Though he always claimed to be a Hyderabadi, and also a Telanganite he worked against Telangana and granted funds in hundreds of crores to his constituency in Andhra.  His statements have distanced him from Telanganites and Andhra people also disown him as he is born and brought up in TG and loves Hyderabad more than Andhra.  He may receive his party symbol as gift in future from people of Andhra and Telangana. 

The party JSP by film actor PK has come up as a joker in pack of cards.  Individually it has no value but put with other cards in sequence will help to win the game.  The party is born to facilitate win for the party which is hyped by media to win election 2014.  As an actor he can attract some crowd and this will add to the massive gatherings at election campaign meetings.  If brokers take money to bring people to the meeting, may be, the actor will be paid in some way if the party wins.  In Telangana only youth of SA origin who are his fans and have no political knowledge will follow his advice.  PK should not forget that his brother who had better fan following failed to win in one of the two constituencies contested in Andhra and that party had won just one seat in TG.  Telanganites are politically shrewd people and know the value of their vote.  

TRS is the only party which is born for Telangana and works for Telangana.  The political party to be in power has to do something for its people.  This party is the only party which gives undivided attention and fights to protect the rights of Telanganites in all fields as the division of the state happens in June.  The two national parties and TDP have varied interests.  Their priority will be SA as they have more number of MP seats which help the parties to run the show in the Centre.  Telanganites are aware of this fact. 

For the future of Telangana Telanganites will vote for the party they think will stand by them.  Hope election 2014 will bring new era in Telangana and pave way for progressive Telangana.

Political Parties In India

In India, Indian National Congress party is the only national party present even prior to independence.  In my childhood I only heard of Congress and Communist parties, later about Jana Sangh.  Members of National Congress have separated from the original party and formed different factions, but the one surviving as the original party is Indian National Congress.  The Communists parties are divided into two one CPI, Communist party of India and CPM, Communist party of India (Marxist).  I do not understand when their fundamentals are same why they want to maintain two parties, is it for the welfare of the people or for more people to bask in the glory of power politics?  The Jana Sangh is disintegrated and gave rise to Bharatiya Janata party.  The other national party of recent origin is the Nationalist Congress Party, which is nothing but and extension of Indian National Congress Party.  The founders of NCP were against Mrs. Sonia G, taking the reins of INC and becoming Prime Minister of India.  But now they are all working under her Chairman ship – as UPA Government!  The party which had come into existence based on Ambedkar ideology is the Bahujana Samaj Party founded by Shri Kanshi Ram.  This party aims to strengthen the backward and down trodden in the castiest Indian society and bring it to power in the State and at Centre. 

All the national parties are formed on the ideology of welfare of all sections of people of India.  As the people in these national parties being predominantly from northern parts of India, imposition of Hindi in all the states of India had given rise to discontent in South, particularly Tamilnadu and paved way to the formation of regional party DMK, later AIADMK.  During the early eighties Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao, renowned Telugu film actor, inspired by MGR, Tamil film actor and founder of AIADMK, had founded Telugu Desam Party (TDP).  Since past few years as the role of money and muscle power has increased in electoral politics many parties are being formed without any concrete ideology.  People, who are rich and have some mass following like film actors, are in forefront in forming parties for personal gains.  Now politics is for power and more power and money and not for power to serve people.

As updated by election commission on 12-3-14 the total number of political parties in India is 1616.  National parties are 6, recognised state parties are 47 and unrecognized parties are 1563.  36 national parties have influence at the national level.  This is what making the regional parties more powerful and allowing them to play a greater role at national level.

For a party to become a national party it should fulfill any of the following criteria:

-         It should win 2% of seats (11) in Lok Sabha from three different states

-         At General elections to Lok Sabha or Legislative assembly elections it should be polled 6% of votes in four states plus win four Lok Sabha seats

-         Recognised as state party in four or more states.

The parties who fail to fulfill the criteria in any general election will lose its identity as national party.

For a party to be recognised as state party it has to fulfill these criteria:

-         In any General elections or Legislative assembly elections it should get at least 3% of seats in Legislative assembly or minimum of 3 seats

-         In any General assembly it should get it one Lok Sabha seat for every 25 Lok Sabha seats allotted to that state

-         In General elections or Legislative assembly to get at least  6% of votes in state and one Lok Sabha seat and 2 assembly seats

-         In General elections to Lok Sabha or Legislative assembly elections should have polled minimum of 8% of votes in the state.

The increase in regional imbalances socio-cultural conflicts has lead to formation of regional parties.  These regional parties work for the development of their region.  India being a nation of many religions, languages and cultures is bound only by the feeling of ‘Indian’.  But the imposition of the language or culture of one region on the other is creating conflicts.  Now in almost all the states in India there are one or more regional parties apart from the significant presence of national parties.  In fact, the presence of national parties is getting marginalized in some states, the best example is Tamil Nadu. 

As no national party is in a position to gain absolute majority in General elections, it is the regional parties which play the role of king maker.  Every regional party wants to have major share in the power at Centre and work for development of its own region. Black mail politics for stable government is the cause of corruption at high places. 

In future it is only the regional parties that are going to rule the nation. The parties should form a national council with apolitical intellectuals and academicians from different fields of science and culture from all the regions.  This council should develop plans for development of all regions and council of ministers should follow it without regional bias.  The council of ministers and intellectuals should work to fulfill the goals embedded in our constitution.

As national parties are losing their all India appeal more and more local parties will come up in future as it is a very simple procedure.  Any body who abides by Indian constitution can form a party and apply to Election Commission of India under section 29A of Representation of Peoples Act 1951.   The required payment of fee is Rs.10,000/- only.  Application may be submitted in prescribed proforma.  Once the party is recognised a symbol is given on which the party can contest.  State party’s symbol will be in that state only and national party uses the same symbol all over the nation.

Indian Union is now becoming federal government and every state party should have a broader perspective of development of not only their state but join together to make India a developed nation.  As Indians we are more powerful internationally and our divided interest can be catastrophic to the nation.

I hope people of India will give a decisive vote for a stronger and safe India.

Political Parties - Biased High Commands

The contestants in Telangana are declared.  Canvassing by all the parties is zooming.  People of Telangana should think twice before casting their vote for assembly and parliament. 

Telangana statehood decision is taken and the appointed day is 2^nd June this year. Before this, the elections results will be out.  There are so many undecided issues in the division of the state, the most important being employment, water and educational opportunities, not to forget the burden of joint capital and governor’s rule in Hyderabad, a poisonous nail in the body of Telangana.  The decision on these issues will be decided by the Telangana and Andhra P assemblies.  Telanganites should not forget the dubious way by which Hyderabad state was merged with Andhra to form Andhra Pradesh in 1956.  It took sixty years, more than 1500 lives of youth sacrificed and unrelenting agitations to get demerger, that too with unconstitutional riders.  The fate of Telangana state depends on the decisiveness of the Telangana assembly and its leader.  This vote impacts the Telangana future generations. 

In Telangana the main contestants are two national parties and two regional parties.  These parties are influenced by the interests of their ‘high commands’.  The high command of Congress is in Delhi under Sonia Gandhi.  The core committee decides all the issues in Delhi with an interest to gain more seats not only regionally but nationally.  Priority is given for Central power.  The members of core committee are influenced by regional satraps.  The treacherous Seemandhra congress MPs who agreed to abide by high command decision on Telangana have unabashedly sprayed poisonous gas on the speaker and members of parliament to immobilize and scuttle the introduction of Telangana bill in parliament.  For people of Andhra origin their high command is not party, it is their property; their region and people stand next as they have to get elected from their region by their people.  In view of retaining their wealth and power they consider Andhra people as their high command. The Telangana congress MPs are ever abiding to their high command in Delhi and  to the Seemandhra junta in AP.  They think they can buy Telangana votes with money as people here are poor and get influenced by money and liquor and vote whoever pays them more.  Telangana agitation did bring some change here, the results in by-elections stand evidence.

BJP is the other national party which again operates from Delhi. The central committee has Venkaiah Naidu as a member who is a Seemandhra.  His strong influence and collusion with Chandra Babu Naidu has made some BJP leaders to say not to bring forth the Telangana Bill in the last parliament session.  When Sushma Swaraj said that she did not know that Telangana Bill is introduced in Loksabha every Telanganite felt as backstabbed.  The negative feeling continues.  Chandrababu Naidu and Venkaiah Naidu together prevented the formation of Telangana in 2002 by BJP government.  Again together created as many hurdles as possible to prevent the smooth passage of Telangana Bill in both houses of parliament.  They are the forces behind the declaration Hyderabad as Joint capital for ten years.  If BJP wins and Naidu is at helm of affairs we do not know what amendments will be made in constitution to make Telangana state a subservient to Seemaandhra. 

TDP is the important regional party; high command Chandrababu Naidu was intolerant to hear the word Telangana.  His high command is Andhra people and whatever decisions he takes it is only in the interests of that region.  The other regional parties YSRCP, Jai Samaikyandhra Party and Janasena party high commands are all Andhra leaders and their priority is protecting the interests of Andhras.  Not to forget is the Loksatta Jaya Prakash Narayan who though won from Kukutpally in Hyderabad, Telangana, never ever spoke about resolving the issue of Telangana, and never supported Telangana.  His roots are in Andhra, though he calls himself intellectual, he is blinded by his love for his Andhra brothers. 

The other important regional party is Telangana Rashtra Samithi, TRS, born for Telangana, to achieve Telangana.  This is lead by K.Chandrashekar Rao.  The entire family got involved in agitations for Telangana statehood.  For TRS Telangana people are high command and TJAC can influence it in taking major decisions.  Their primary interest is working for the benefit of Telangana and its people.  The TRS government when formed will work to get the rightful share in employment and strive to get rid of unconstitutional riders imposed on Telangana under the influence of Andhra leaders. 

Progressive development of Telangana can be achieved only by the people of Telangana who believe that their power is in hands of Telanganites directly.  People in parties under the leadership of Andhra leaders cannot take decisions individually.  Their Andhra leaders' biased decisions will be directly or subtly be imposed on Telangana. 

For Telanganites this is a crucial election.  Their vote will make or mar future of Telangana.  New born Telangana must be in the hands of its natives and not with those who hate to utter the word Telangana, whose roots are in Andhra or other regions.

Winning Horses - Losing Principles

The main political parties are unable to decide on their contestants.  They did not even bring forth the election manifesto.  All the parties are promising Moon and Mars in their speeches but fear to put forth the manifesto first before any party.  May be, everybody wants to know what other party promises and promise all that and more.  The parties are also not concluding their alliances with other parties and the list of candidates, particularly in Andhra and Telangana.  Parties are worried that the leaders who are not given tickets may immediately shift their loyalties.    

TRS had finally decided to contest all alone all the seats in Telangana.  It is the regional party, riding high as the only party that unequivocally fought for Telangana and finally achieved Telangana state.  Now that Telangana state is going to come into existence from 2^nd June, Telanganites are more inclined to have their own regional party to come into power.  Congress wants to reap benefits as the party that had kept its promise of formation of Telangana and BJP the party which pressurized Congress to pass Telangana bill and supported it, thus highlighting its key role in the formation of Telangana.  TDP also wants to claim its role as the main opposition party in state which had given letter to the Central Government expressing its positive view on formation of Telangana State.  CPI is another party which had played supportive role in agitations for Telangana state, also wants to improve its tally in these elections in alliance with TRS and Congress.  But it could not materialize till now.  CPM has become untouchable in Telangana for its singular stand of Samaikyandhra.  MIM is a branded Muslim party and it has its presence mainly in old city of Hyderabad.  It will contest in areas where the Muslim population is in majority.  Other than Hyderabad it will contest for a few seats in Nizamabad and Ananthapur in Andhra.  They do not seem to think of any alliance with any other party.

TRS is very confident of its victory in these elections.  It has presented its manifesto and first list of candidates on 4^th April.  The other parties are searching for winning horses in Andhra and Telangana.  Congress is even offering 1+1 in Seemandhra, those who are ready to contest in this election will be guaranteed ticket in the 2019 elections too.  Most of the Congress MLAs and MPs in Seemaandhra have shifted to TDP fearing defeat as congressmen as they cannot digest and explain the demerger of Telangana to people in Seemaandhra.  Some of them moved to BJP.  The leaders who blamed TDP’s letter as the cause for division of the state have joined TDP and praise Chandra Babu for his administrative capabilities.  Those who joined BJP forget that it is the party that has constantly threatened Congress to bring the Telangana bill or it will form Telangana state within three months of its formation of government in the centre in 2014.  The leaders are jumping from one party to another within short time that now it is difficult to say who will be in which party by time of election date .  If the party they dived into gives them a ticket to contest at their choice of place they will be in that party, otherwise jump into another party or contest as independents.  In their election speeches they criticize the party in which they were in power and ruled the nation till a month ago.  Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy’s situation is the most pathetic. As Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, when he strongly condemned the Congress party and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi’s decision on Telangana, all the Seemandhra Ministers praised him as their hero and star batsman.  They encouraged him to form a party too.  Now that the Jai Samaikyandhra party is formed and Kiran Reddy wants to fight elections every one deserted him and he is left with a pair of chappals and no significant leader.  Whatever was the reason for his actions as CM he wanted to be the champion of promoting Samaikyandhra and win in his ancestral town.  He has no place in Telangana and it appears even Seemandhras abandoned him for he calls himself a Hyderabadi.   “naa ghar ka, naa ghaat ka” adage suits him best.

.  The fundamental ideology of all political parties and leaders is to be in power and anything and every thing done to achieve this goal is fair.  All the party leaders are selecting candidates who are rich and powerful as their winning horses.   People are watching the leaders who are changing parties like changing trends in fashion.  People always gave intelligent decision.  They always vote for change, vote for lesser evil. Another two months we will know the verdict of the people.

Political Parties - Unholy Alliances

All political parties are busy forming strategies to win elections – 2014.  The three national parties are not confident of forming government by self.  The Communist party is always dependent on other parties to win parliament elections.  It had maximum MPs in 2004 and supported Congress.  Though the Communist leader Shri Jyothi Basu had opportunity to become the Prime Minister then, it was refused by the party.  Later there was fall of Communist government even in Bengal, the only state in India which was under its rule for almost two decades.  Their strength also decreased in Parliament.

Congress, more than a century old party ruled India for about half century.  No other party could rule singly for more than three years.  It is always Congress verses other parties.  The stalwarts in the party are good at manipulative and popular politics.  They can carry on individually or in coalition and bring in populist schemes and gain in elections.  The electoral benefits of recently introduced food guarantee scheme is drowned in the multiple scams in UPA – 2.

The Bharatiya Janata Party wants to come into power presenting Shri Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate.  They talk about the development of Gujarat.  But civil liberties people and people for human rights are pointing out various developmental indices that fail to show any improvement in the life of poor.  Also they point to the failure of Modi government in protecting a section of people in 2002 riots.  One of his Ministers is jailed for leading the riots.  Being the head of the government he is held responsible for riots and had to apologise for the same.  This is compared to Sikhs attacks in 1984.  Congress has apologized for it but did not punish anybody till now.  Now these national parties want people to elect them, and people have little choice, choosing between the devil and deep sea. 

There are other national parties like BSP, SP and JD.  But their influence is very little nation wide when compared to Congress and BJP, of course, Communist party.  Now almost all the states have one or more local or state or regional parties.  In Andhra Pradesh, the most popular regional parties are TDP and YSRCP and TRS.  The leaders of TDP and YSRCP belong to Rayalaseema or now newly formed AP (Seemandhra) and TRS is led by Shri K. Chandra Shekhar Rao who belongs to Telangana. The 2014 elections are being held to form new governments in two states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The election heat is hotter than summer heat in Seemandhra and Telangana.  Local, municipal, assembly, and parliament elections are to be completed by mid May.  The appointed day for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is 2^nd June 2014.  All the political parties are fighting with all their might to win as many seats as possible.  The changed scenario due to formation of Telangana had led many Seemandhra Congress leaders to desert the party and join other parties, particularly TDP and also YSRCP to fight against Congress which had fulfilled its poll promise of formation of Telangana.  Do not know what people are thinking in Seemandhra, but TDP thinks it is the champion of Samaikya Andhra as Shri Nara Chandra Babu Naidu tried his best to stall the formation of Telangana till it was passed in Rajya Sabha.  He is the man behind resignation dramas on 10^th December, 2009, and also negated the Telangana formation in 2002 by NDA causing death of more than 1000 deaths of Telangana youth in the recent past.  YSRCP also thinks it is the only party whose MLAs resigned after the decision announced by CWC to form Telangana.  Their party led agitations in the name of equal justice in Seemandhra.  The party has completely disappeared in Telangana.  TDP Chandra Babu Naidu could manage to hold his Telangana flock together till February 22^nd.  Later as Naidu was sure that he had lost ground in Telangana had announced that he would make BC person CM in Telangana if TDP comes to power has made TDP leaders in Telangana turn their direction towards Congress and TRS. 

To come to power the parties and leaders are getting into unholy alliance.  As surveys are predicting win for TRS in Telangana and at national level people are favouring Modi to be prime minister political leaders are leaving the parties which have given them political life and power.  Leaders who always talked of secularism are joining BJP or trying their best to have an alliance with it.  People who blamed Babu as back stabber and his letter is the cause of division of AP state are joining TDP praising Chandra Babu Naidu as a shrewd politician and capable of leading Seemandhra.  People who have come to power as Congress persons forgot that they have won elections in 2009 promising separate Telangana are blaming Congress for dividing the state and joining BJP which supported Congress’ decision on creating Telangana.  BJP who promised one vote two states in 1999 but back tracked on its promise due to Babu’s pressure against it is blaming Congress for passing Telangana Bill.  BJP which pressurized Congress to bring Telangana bill in the last minute worked in tandem with Babu, who refused to have alliance with them in 2009 blaming it as Hindutva non secular party, now promised BJP that if the party obstructs the passing of Telangana Bill he would give support to BJP in the ensuing elections and help formation of Modi/ BJP government in the Centre.  TRS which promised possible merger of his party in Congress after Telangana formation now refused merger and wants to contest alone.  Telangana people and party did not forget the trauma they had faced for four years due indecisiveness of Congress and its high drama in the final stage and imposing restrictions on government of Telangana state.

Now it is very difficult to know which leader belongs to which party and how long he will be in that party.  By the time the nominations are over there may emerge a crude picture of party leaders and their affiliations.  Once the results are out, then there will be refined picture of politicians and their political affiliations.  Observing all these things it will be a serious mental exercise to vote in these elections.  Whether to vote for a person or party is difficult to say.  When individual leaders do not abide by party principles these leaders should be eliminated and party should be given priority as every party is founded on definite principles and the people in central committee of any national party will always take decision abiding by its principles.  All the parties have skeletons in their cup boards.  We should wait and watch what happens at the national level.  As for local elections, in Telangana it is a must that TRS should win to gain “Sampoorna Telangana”, and it happens.