March exposes Telangana cracks

TRS is reportedly upset over carrying the march unilaterally

The rift  between the TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao(KCR) and Telangana-Joint Action Committee (T-JAC) convenor Kodandaram has further widened. The TRS is reportedly upset with the T-JAC unilaterally calling a march in support of Telangana in Hyderabad on Sunday.

 Sources in the TRS point out that KCR was hurt by the decision of Kodandaram to go ahead with the march without consulting his party. TRS MLA’s openly said the T-JAC had not coordinated with them. KCR gave the green signal for TRS MLA Harish Rao to participate only a few days ahead of the march.

 To make matters worse, Kodandaram announced that the march would continue beyond 7 pm and requested the agitators to stay put till a separate state of ‘Telangana’ is announced. Permission was granted for a march only between 3 pm and 7 pm and only on Necklace road. Outraged by Kodandaram’s high handedness, TRS MLAs staged a walk out.

They pulled back thousands of agitators brought from the districts. Brushing aside differences TRS leaders explained, “It was a sudden announcement (indefinite sit in) and we cannot cause inconvenience to the people brought from far away districts.” With a large chunk of agitators leaving the ground, a shocked Kodandaram took the excuse of inclement weather to call off his plans. TRS leaders were also upset when Kodandaram allowed TUF leader Vimalakka frontal attack on KCR. “Touch the feet of Telangana talli. Be with the people to achieve Telangana”, the fire brand leader said without mentioning KCR.

The question doing the rounds in political circles is the absence of KCR at the march.

T-JAC leaders said it was to avoid a direct confrontation with the T-JAC cadre, who believe that only agitation and not negotiations will bring in Telangana.  The seeds of discontent were sown during the Mahabubnagar by-election when the T-JAC supported the BJP which later won the election.  The T-JAC then tried to please KCR by extending support to the TRS in the Parakala by-election but to no avail.

The BJP also expressed its resentment over Kodandaram not consulting the party. Senior Congress minister Jana Reddy expressed anger at the T-JAC for demanding the resignation of Congress ministers.

All Congress ministers from Telangana will soon be going to New Delhi to prevail upon party president Sonia Gandhi and the Congress core committee to concede Telangana, he said.