TRS treading TDP’s 2018-19 path

• Leaders exceed limits in their criticism against PM
• Minister Vemuri Prashanth makes controversial remark on AP CM
• Another leader demands separate country for Telangana
• Are TRS leaders trying to stir up T Sentiment once again?
• Will this reduce anti incumbency and swing sympathy for TRS?

Hyderabad: On Friday TRS MLAs, MLCs, MPs were in agitation mode across the state demanding centre should procure paddy from Telangana as it did in Punjab. After debacle in Huzurabad, there is change in style of CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), who started a series of media meets attacking the BJP both at state and central levels. In the process, TRS Supremo called for protests across the state demanding centre to purchase entire paddy yield from State.

Enthusiastic TRS leaders used this protest to try to overcome anti incumbency in their respective constituencies. They know very well that BJP is mounting  severe attacks against TRS party and will continue with the spirit and enthusiasm they got from Huzurabad win. To counter these, TRS leaders went on to the peak with their criticism and comments which crossed the borders of civility  and states. Here are a few:

Minister Vemula Prashant Reddy came down heavily on  CM of neighbouring State, Jagan Mohan Reddy, which was irrelevant to Friday’s dharna. He said that Andhra leaders said that if Telangana statehood is achieved, state will be filled with beggars, but now look at AP and its CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is begging centre for day to day expenses.

Another leader from Karimnagar took a step forward by criticising PM Modi strongly and demanded a separate country in the name of Telangana. He should not forget that TRS MLC Kavitha, when she was an MP came out by saying Kashmir and Hyderabad were forcibly merged in India and faced sedition charges after Karunasagar filed a case.

Are TRS leaders trying to stir up T Sentiment once again?

The scenario looks to be old wine in new bottle, with ruling party leaders trying to stir up their main weapon, T sentiment. Minister Prashanth reddy tried to provoke the same in recent Huzurabad bypoll by criticism and comparing Andhra CM Jagan as water thief and calling Andhra people as Rakshasas(demons). This looks to be a political move by TRS to start the campaign for next assembly elections. The T- sentiment is the main point which fetched them second term after Chandrababu Naidu joined hands with congress and entered Telangana for campaigning. Now TRS wants to repeat the same card after they are surrounded by BJP and congress from all directions and many of TRS MLAs are facing severe anti incumbency in their constituencies.

TDP did the same but failed

TDP did a similar thing to what TRS is doing now. They hugged and moved with BJP for almost 4 years and suddenly Chandrababu Naidu took  a  U-turn and started attacking  Modi in the assembly and launched  protests across state against BJP. He went on to criticise PM Modi by saying that they are not beggars and it is their right to question about state funds. Cine actor-turned-politician Murali Mohan said that India should be divided as North India and South India. This U-turn failed miserably in AP and people dethroned TDP giving chance to YCP. In Telangana the picture looks to be a replica of TDP in AP. KCR who did not utter a word against the Centre seriously for the past three years now seem to taking a  U-turn in many aspects like going against three farm laws, agitation against paddy in favour of farmers, agitation against hike in petrol, diesel prices.

Should win people’s hearts, not by critics

There are a few chief ministers who won people’s hearts with their administration  but not by criticisms and provocations. Jyothi Basu ruled for more than 30 years, Odish’sa Naveen Patnaik enjoys a good, positive image and will win in next elections too. Late NTR and YSR won hearts with the services to people, Narendra Modi went on to become PM from CM of Gujarat. The first time chief minister Stalin of Tamil Nadu has been exemplary in his behaviour.  it is better for our leaders of Telugu states to follow their footsteps rather than trying to win elections with provocations and criticism which won’t fetch vote bank any further.