The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP's claims under scrutiny in Telangana

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP's claims under scrutiny in Telangana

By W. Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD, APRIL 17. The people of the Telangana region, comprising 16 Lok Sabha (including Bhadrachalam) and 107 Assembly seats, going to the polls on April 20, seem to be in a sulking mood. The emotive aspect of the `Telangana sentiment' has waned a little, yielding place to a more pragmatic assessment. But, the preference for separate Statehood remains.

A tour of the Telangana heartland — Karimnagar and Warangal — reveals that four years of continuous drought, lack of irrigation facilities and the early onset of summer have contributed to a `feel bad factor'. Drinking water crisis is flaring up the tempers further. The claims of the Govenment come under a microscope. The much-publicised claim that the Government has stabilised five lakh acres in Karimnagar and Warangal districts does not draw much attention. No debate is heard on the TDP's plank of development and its claims about the benefits from `Neeru Meeru' and Food-for-work programme are taken with a pinch of salt.

While the TD nominee, Gandra Nalini, contesting from the Karimnagar Assembly constituency, is confident that the women vote bank is intact for the party, her Congress rival, M. Satyanarayana Rao, counters it saying there is an incumbency disadvantage for the TDP.

The TRS factor was responsible for a major division in the votes during the elections to the local bodies in 2001 taking away 20.4 per cent from others in the region. There are more pressing problems like the MSP and power tariff hikes which occupy centre-stage of debates.

A small farmer, Manda Saraiah of Nawabpet of Chityal mandal, asserts: "Separate Statehood may not be a panacea to my problem. Just as I change my farming preferences, I need to experiment for a better tomorrow."

The Congress promise of free power is now a major draw for the rural folk. Townsfolk like V.K.Reddy, a printing press owner, says: "At least the tariff should not be hiked frequently."

The Opposition was confident earlier due to its alliances in the region. The subsequent developments and the intrigue that has gone into scuttling each other's chances have evaporated the emotive aspect of the Telangana sentiment. The benefit here has not accrued to the TDP, which is battling similar dissidence.

"Congress culture has seeped into our camp. We are not above board when it comes to bickering. We cannot resort to name-game, faced with the problem," a senior Telugu Desam functionary of Karimnagar says.

The absence of bonhomie among the Cabinet colleagues of Chandrababu Naidu in Warangal district and the rivalry in the Congress camp in some pockets of Karimnagar district blunt the advantage of the parties.

The disenchantment among employees is a major factor. A police officer reflects the mood thus: "We badly need an executive holiday. The daily progress reports, Action Taken Reports and the round-the-clock video conferences have sapped our energy." Apprehensions over retrenchments due to privatisation and lower retirement age add fuel to fire.

A more focussed approach towards development vis-a-vis naxalism would have changed the preference-shift, the business community agrees.

The TDP-BJP campaign is hindered by the PW threat to some extent though it has not affected the women candidates' campaign.

Last time, the TDP held 11 seats in both districts and the BJP three out of 26 while the Congress was having 12. Still, the last 48 hours will be crucial.

The size of the gatherings at rival meetings during the dying hours of campaign shall considerably swing the undecided vote. Judging by the voters' mood the balance of power could well be altered.

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