The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Efforts on to adopt ‘Mayawati formula’ for A.P.

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Wednesday, Dec 05, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Efforts on to adopt ‘Mayawati formula’ for A.P.

Special Correspondent

Determined move by various organisations to form an alternative political front to Congress, Telugu Desam

‘Sarva Jana Sammelanam’ to be organised on December 9
MRPS not keen on Chiranjeevi leading an ‘alternative’ front

HYDERABAD: A determined effort is underway by various organisations championing the cause of weaker sections and individuals to join forces and form a political front that could serve as an alternative to the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) a la Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh.

What started as a bid earlier this year by these organisations to seek their due share of seats in the Legislative Council appears to be gaining momentum.

This is evident from the view commonly expressed by Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Welfare Association the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) and other organisations about the urgent need for BCs, SCs, Brahmins and Vysyas to come on a single platform as they have been denied their share in the power which has always been dominated by two major castes.

Former Advocate-General S. Ramachandra Rao, who believes that the coming together of the socially oppressed sections and the economically backward in upper castes is the panacea for this problem, has intensified efforts to bring these communities on to one platform and is even organising a ‘Sarva Jana Sammelanam’ here on December 9. The Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes’ Welfare Association, which claims to have initiated this process by holding a meeting of 35 BC organisations three months ago even invited film star Chiranjeevi to lead such a political formation. “But, he did not respond then,” said Mr. R. Krishnaiah, president of the association.

Glamour quotient

Though the pitch of the debate on the issue has been raised significantly over the past few weeks, the much-needed unity among the organisations is still elusive.

This is evident from the different views being expressed on applicability of ‘Mayawati formula’ as well as the choice of a glamorous personality leading the proposed front.

The MRPS that welcomed the coming together of the groups is, however, not very enthusiastic of Chiranjeevi leading such a front since he had never espoused issues of public concern.

Bright future

Moreover, it would not be appropriate to call it the ‘Mayawati formula’ since the consolidation of votes on caste basis began long ago in Uttar Pradesh.

The views of MRPS apart, the Communist Party of India (CPI), among the major political parties, sees a bright future to such an alternative that brings the sections that had been kept away from power for long, closer to it.

The party made no secret of its efforts in bringing together all these parties and organisations and has been holding talks with even budding entities like Lok Satta Party and Rajyadhikara Party.

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