Tuesday, December 04, 2018

Why Naidu campaigning in Telangana is arrogant and hegemonistic?

Imagine Jayalalitha (erstwhile Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) fielding her own candidates and campaigning in Karnataka Assembly elections! 

Anyone who understands the political history of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu would find such a scenario silly, weird and even dangerous.  The reason is: unlike two friendly neighbours such as Odisha and West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have serious issues over sharing of river waters, and those burning topic brings people regularly onto streets in protests.   Therefore, Jayalalitha fielding her candidates in Karnataka would be seen as hegemonistic, a way of entering Karnataka politics to subvert the political system, only to gain something for her own Tamil Nadu State.  It would undermine the democracy within Karnataka.  Such a scenario is unlikely.  Jayalalitha would never have campaigned in Karnataka.

And yet, today, we see such unlikely scenario happening in Telangana. 

There are two essential reasons why Naidu campaigning in Telangana is not just downright amoral, but is sinister, and a threat of democracy within Telangana.

The rivalry between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is an accepted fact.   Almost every political pundit knows about it.  There are many unresolved issues pending from the bifurcation, many corporations are still undivided, and most importantly, there is this issue of sharing of river waters.  Whenever Telangana moved ahead to build an irrigation project within Telangana to tap into their rightful share of river water, Naidu has objected to it by writing a letter to the Central Government.  He has demonstrated that he unequivocally stands against the interests of Telangana and its people.  Therefore, such a leader, from the neighbouring state which is unfriendly, to come to Telangana to position his candidates and campaign has only agenda: it is a subversive attempt to undermine the interests of Telangana, an attempt to tamper into the democratic process within Telangana to unfairly gain something for Andhra Pradesh. 

Also, when Telangana State formation was announced on 9th December 2009 by P Chidambaram, it was Naidu and his MPs and MLAs who stood against the formation of Telangana by protesting openly.  Naidu was one of the main leaders of the opposition to formation of Telangana.   He sat on a strike in Delhi openly opposing the formation of Telangana.  After the bifurcation, he used his clout as a partner in NDA to steal few of the mandals from Telangana, which were then merged with Andhra Pradesh.  He blatantly took the position of opposing the interests of Telangana.  Therefore his campaign in Telangana once again shows the same arrogance of the Andhra leadership, the very leadership Telangana fought against to form a new State.   His interests are antithetical to interests of Telangana.

His campaign in Telangana is not just amoral and sinister, but it is hegemonistic and in every aspect completely anti-Telangana.  It should be summarily rejected by the people of Telangana.

4 comments:

  1. Sujai, Do you know history properly? Bhadrachalam revenue division was part of earst while east Godavari district, it was not part of HYD state before 1956 and it was merged with Khammam in 1959 for convienience, so ideally they should be back to Andhra but bhadrachalam is still with TG except few mandals. Why cribbing, it was with AP before anyway? Also anyone in India can contest elections anywhere and its up to people to decide. River water disputes will be there not among states but districts and even mandals.Your argument that TDP shouldn't contest TG elections is undemocratic and against the constitution of India.
    Also your comparison with KA and TN with TS/AP is wrong. DMK/DMK of TN doesn't have cadres and base in KA (may be a few sympathisers) and also JDU has not base in TN but TDP has base in TG not among settlers, also among BC voters (their strength may come down). TG sentiment is valid till 2014 only until statehood. From 2014, TRS should tell what DEV it did and counter Naidu's arguments not using stupid sentiment but by their work. How different they are compared to previous regimes? What all promises they fullfilled?

    Anyway AP/TS division is done and Naidu can't change even if TDP comes to power

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sujai,

    Hegemonistic? CBN's party is contesting 13 seats and it is fighting for survival. CBN is pulling out all stops to ensure that his party is alive. Let the people of Telangana send TDP packing, but none of us can deny CBN the right to campaign in the state. I hope you would agree with me on this point if you and I want to live in a pluralistic Telangana. You begin with the premise that whatever CBN does is opposed to Telangana's interests. If that is the case, let us wage a consistent battle for our interests within the existing political and judicial system. Why are we exalting CBN's power so much (even its negative aspect)?

    Also, all this criticism is a bit rich and it smacks to me as an apologia for TRS. The ruling TRS has poached TDP's MLAs and many Ministers in its cabinet are from the TDP. It is almost like an old boys' club for ex-TDP politicos. So, read your post once again and spend a moment reflecting on its weak argument (a train wreck really starting with the Jayalalitha comparison). There is nothing arrogant about CBN campaigning in Telangana. In fact, the ruling TRS (and sadly you) are being arrogant in decrying his right to campaign. There is a sizeable proportion of people in Telangana (I am not one) who believe in CBN, just as there is broad swathe of people who believe in KCR. Let the Telangana society decide. I trust the electorate to do what is right.

    By the way, you brought in threats to "subvert" or "undermine" democracy in Telangana. I am afraid you are sounding too biased. Why such paranoia and outrage? Democracy is not you and me. Let the people of Telangana decide.

    Best,
    Jared

    ReplyDelete
  3. Finally you're back. Was waiting for your article. Please write regularly. A lot is happening in India, these days!


    -Your reader from Kashmir.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nothing wrong in Naidoo contesting election in T. What provisio of constitution is he violating? There's a sense of patriotism you nurture for T. That makes you speak in ways that undoes your otherwise rational thought process. So, chill, and let people of T decide what's good for them as they have done by unequivocally electing the founding father of T, Mr. KCR

    ReplyDelete

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