This rhetoric is all pervasive across a large section of vernacular media — irrespective of whether it is print, electronic or digital. Ironically, the too-much-punched YSR Congress, launched by impudent Congress leader and Kadapa MP,YS Jaganmohan Reddy, doesn’t seem to be in a position to effectively counter the tactical offensive campaign, what with the party engrossed in the war of one-upmanship. There are too many aspirants angling for every position on behalf of the YSR Congress. This naturally is resulting in backbiting and internal dissensions.
The biggest problem plaguing the party is Jagan’s incarceration. He may give a broad policy direction, but certainly he cannot run the day-to-day affairs of the party, which wants to spread to every nook and cranny of the State, from the confines of Chanchalguda Central Prison. Though YSR’s son and daughter developed an uncanny knack of drawing huge crowds effortlessly and mastered the art of holding the masses hear them in rapt attention, the Herculean task in front of them is to wipe the shadows casting on their credibility, especially with regard to financial matters.
Unable to combat smear campaign
However, it is almost 10 months since Jagan is put behind bars. This was largely celebrated by his detractors within politics and media, for obvious reasons and is still being celebrated at the drop of a hat. Lending strength and providing legitimacy to their detractors, YSR Congress leaders of all levels are gunning for the heads of one another.
The floor-crossing and public display of internecine feuds, even as Sharmila is touring the place as part of her padayatra, within during the elections to the District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCB) and District Cooperative Marketing Society (DCMS) in Guntur district impaled the original position of the party. Popular surge to public meetings may surely be an endorsement of the party line, but that is not enough for a party sprouted from the throes of serious and nearly-convincing charges of corruption against the first family of the party. And there is no respite, yet. Every passing day, every incident is giving scope for the disparagers to raise a bogie against Jagan, Sharmila, her husband Anil Kumar and Sakshi group.
A recent suicide of a person, Veerabhadra Reddy, in Jaggayyapet mandal of Krishna district is being attributed to one of the family members of YSR clan and it is very obvious, as effortlessly the dots are being projected and it is just that they need to be connected. Going by the trend, it is just a conjecture of time before they go for a final kill.
For, the State support to such things come with much more force than usual. In fact, a few media houses which are working with a known and exposed agenda of working against YSR Congress are overtly and explicitly trying to “somehow convince” the bereaved family to lodge a complaint in the suicide case.
No puritans they?
Of course, the posturing of these persons too never made an attempt to stay clear of any charges. Foisting of false cases or ascribing some charges against popular persons is certainly not a difficult task, especially in the days of social media. Remember the all-too-well known dictum: To kill the dog, call it mad. But, why have they given scope and why aren’t charges of such serious nature are coming against others is a moot question. For instance, the forgery case and the fracas in which P Ravindranath Reddy, Jagan’s maternal uncle, is now embroiled in is surely a murky one.
Why have all the members of the first family of the new political party forgotten the age old adage — Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion — especially after YSR became the Chief Minister? The argument that the YSR clan was being linked to every scandal with a definite political motive is acceptable, only partially.
Whenever a charge comes up, leaders and sympathisers of YSRC raise pointers at Chandrababu Naidu and his governance, almost like a reflex. This seems absolutely ridiculous. The question here is why haven’t their leaders remained puritans.
With too many of those stung by political unemployment are gluing to the new party, considering its strengths. But, they are not joining the party for charity or to fortify the hands of Jaganmohan Reddy who is caught enmeshed in a maze of legal wrangles. Every one wants to become an MLA or MP and most of them want Jagan to fund their election. One of those who entered the party admitted candidly a few reasons for a lot of them considering YSRC as the most-preferred option.
Their expectations include: 1. The election expenses bill would be picked by the party; 2. There is a craze in the public for Jagan and Sharmila; 3. YSR’s popularity would fetch votes; 4. Doubts over victory are less compared to competition, 5. Since it is a new party, “future would be bright”.
They are nearly right because of the 2,3, and 4 reasons. They are almost wrong with regard to point 1 and 5. Even if we assume that the critics’ charges of amassing wealth by Jagan and Co are true for the sake of argument, why will that money be taken out for election expenses? Next, nobody knows who is holding the remote control of the party? While Jagan’s decisions are ultimate in the party, who are taking decision or influencing the same outside? Who is giving commitments to whom and for what? Is it Vijayamma, or YV Subba Reddy or some of the senior leaders or persons close to the YSR family?
This dichotomy and contradictions within are causing confusion at all levels. Recently, a very senior MP almost made up his mind to cross over to YSR Congress. While a party ideologue enticed him into the party fold, the move fizzled out after a month-long confabulations as it did not have sanction from Jagan. Rather, party sources said, Jagan rejected the offer.
Crises surfacing all over
The exit of Sambangi Venkata China Appala Naidu, who crossed over from the TDP, owing to a cut-throat competition with sitting MLA Rajah Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao in Bobbili constituency should not be taken easy. It is not like Makineni Pedarathaiah of Guntur district leaving the party, sulking. doesn’t have a constituency to contest and he is also relegated to political wilderness by the TDP. Though he expected that he would be treated like a father-figure, he could not scale that height in the YSR Congress.
The entry of sitting MLA Gottipati Ravi Kumar into the party from Addanki Assembly constituency naturally angered and is suffocating former senior MLA Bachina Chenchu Garataiah (who joined the YSRC long ago). While several sitting legislators are waiting in their wings to cross over, some of them are staying back in their respective parties to enhance their bargaining power when they actually “get there”. Barring a few pockets, the party hasn’t consolidated its position in most districts of Telangana, an uphill task, indeed.
As regards the craze of YSR’s children; we have a question to ask. Though the craze may be widespread, where is the party organisation to convince and escort the voters with precision. The party doesn’t seem to have anything in place with regard to planning and execution. How long would it depend on fluke fortunes? When it called for a bandh, its strengths down the line stood exposed.
The party is still hankering for sitting MPs and MLAs from the Congress and the TDP. It has a very genuine reason for enticing the sitting representatives. They come with their own cadre, supporters and organisation of their own. That they would also come with a baggage, as each one of them would have a past, will of course turn out to be difficult handle. But of such leaders have a past, the party’s supreme leadership has a ‘present’ too.
Differences among leaders in Guntur, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Kadapa, Anantapur, Kurnool, and some Telangana districts reached menacing proportions constraining Vijayamma herself to undertake district tours to address these issues. With Jagan’s enlargement from the prison remaining eternally elusive, sharper daggers of criticism piercing through the party’s fabric, and detractors spewing venom straight into the eyes of the party leadership, it is literally a fight against all odds for the YSR Congress.
Staying away from elections is no politics
Against this background, will the party be able to shore up strength for the upcoming Assembly elections is a big interrogative sentence staring at it. If panchayat raj elections are conducted before hand, will it hit the party below the belt remains yet another poser. Already, it stayed away from cooperative polls and MLC elections.
Another very serious problem that engulfed the party is its spokespersons. A large number of them are inarticulate and don’t do any homework on anything before demonstrating their lung power. This is evident from the TV talk shows in which they relentlessly participate to draw the public attention and project themselves more than explaining the party line on issues.
The party has strategists like M V Mysoora Reddy, Ummareddy Venkateswarlu, Konathala Ramakrishna and a few others. It has economists and analysts like D A Somayajulu and loud-mouths like Ambati Rambabu. But what it lacks is coordination, coherence and a strong joint leadership. If things are not set right and political prophylactic measures are taken right now, it becomes extremely difficult for it to face the elections and remain active in the political arena of the State, leave alone capturing power in the State and playing a pivotal role at the Centre.
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