KCR associate challenges ‘father-son-daughter-nephew’ rule

Miffed by the ‘autocratic one family rule’ in Telangana, Professor M Kodandaram, a former associate of chef minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, on Monday launched a new political party. Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) will take on the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) in the 2019 elections.

Kodandaram, a former professor at the Osmania University and student of the Jawaharlal Nehru University feels let down that the high hopes that people had after the new state was formed in June 2014 have all dissipated.

“Instead, all we have is rampant corruption and the propagation of one family,” he said. The 61-year old Kodandaram who was heading the Telangana Joint Action Committee (T-JAC) till now said that a political party was required to challenge the ruling TRS and that he had launched it after intense discussions with a large section of people. T- JAC was formed even before Telangana became a reality.

The professor played an active role in the Telangana movement that led to the creation of the new state, but once the new state was formed he found himself marginalised along with many others.

“Not only is there rampant corruption, but there are curbs of people’s right to express themselves. Since the existing political parties have been unable to take on the present dispensation, we have decided to counter the TRS and contest all the seats in the assembly polls next year,” a confident Kodandaram added.

Though mild mannered, Kodandaram is well regarded in the state and is known for his integrity. That is why analysts think that other political parties will seriously take cognizance of the launch of his party. Although TRS has not reacted to the formation of the new party, it comes at a time when K Chandrasekhar Rao has unveiled his national ambitions and begun the process of a federal front of all parties other than the BJP and the Congress.

KCR’s ambitions have been buoyed by his belief that he has been able to decimate all opposition within the state. Chief Minister KCR’s son K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) is an important minister in the state cabinet and is seen as his heir apparent. Nephew Harish Rao is also an important minister while daughter Kavita is a Lok Sabha MP. Nephew Santosh has recently been elected to Rajya Sabha.

The BJP is a virtual non -starter in Telangana while the Telugu Desam Party has been reduced to a rump. The Congress party is the only opposition in the state but the wily KCR has lured many MLAs from the ranks of the grand old party.

Though KCR has mooted a federal front, many analysts think that he could well have a tacit alliance with the BJP. In the past KCR had been telling BJP (perhaps not so explicitly) that if he is allowed to rule over Telangana, he will support the BJP at the Centre. BJP’s reaction is not known but the party has been unable to grow in Telangana.

The only asset of the state is the city of Hyderabad. The city has been well branded, because of IT investments. Farm suicides, are not uncommon in Telangana. Much of the state is covered by poorly endowed agriculture. Other than IT there are not many industries in Telangana. And a new party could pose a few challenges.