As autumn has metamorphosed into winter, the weather has turned chilly. Dal Lake in Srinagar has frozen. Glacial and icy winds are sweeping across swathes of the country. Even in Telangana and Hyderabad temperatures have dipped. Denizens of the land prefer the warmth of an eiderdown duvet. Those who are unable to afford this luxury find succour in the snug mellowness of a bonfire. This is particularly true of the large agrarian population of the country. However our political leaders and parties are burning an inferno to generate adequate heat.
The recently concluded Assembly Polls have propelled the political ambitions and aspirations of regional satraps of different parties, spanning myriad ideologies even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was worsted in the three strongholds of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Two leaders of the Deccan – namely Chandra Babu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) of Telangana have embarked upon a voyage to form fronts to combat the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the BJP.
It is interesting to note that Chandra Babu Naidu is aligning openly with the Congress apart from initiating dialogue with other regional leaders. M.K. Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has attempted to espouse the cause of the Gandhi scion to be the centrifugal force and be promoted as the Prime Ministerial candidate.
But this has not find favour among other regional outfits who are trying to play a polar role in the emerging scenario either as King-makers or as Emperors themselves. It is another matter that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and INC were once upon a time sworn adversaries right since the inception of TDP.
One can reckon that the iconic actor-politician and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N.T.Rama Rao would be turning in his grave.
Fresh from his victory, KCR is doing rounds of various state capitals in order to form a federal front to challenge the supremacy of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the BJP and NDA. But, he has not involved the Congress Party to be part of the cauldron; it is supposed to be a non-BJP and non-Congress front.
So the strain is significant. Quite evidently Andhra Pradesh and Telangana would play a significant role in the formation of the next government.
But here lies the catch. People of India, politicians across various political parties, eager beaver journos and the 24×7 television channels are attempting to gauge the manoeuvres of Bua-Bhatija duo; that is the shenanigans of the principal protagonists Mayawati of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP). They are yet to reveal their cards and would in all likelihood inflict the gargantuan ignominy of conceding merely two seats – Rae Bareilly and Amethi- to the Grand Old Party.
So the two Southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with their total of 42 seats and Uttar Pradesh with 80 seats in its kitty are all positioning themselves the as contenders for the coveted prize.
Add to this Game of Thrones the elusive Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress who is yet to divulge his political strategy. Perhaps Pawan Kalyan and Chiranjeevi, the trouper-brothers may align with him and garner a majority of seats in Andhra Pradesh and possibly spring a surprise in Telangana too. While the latter is the realm of possible, the former is a distinct possiblity.
After the loss of the ‘Mahakutami’ in Telangana, one wonders whether Congressmen would like to align with the TDP in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the Lok Sabha polls. Jagan Mohan Reddy appears to be biding time in a cranny corner, akin to a tiger on the prowl, which is playing the waiting-game before inflicting the sledge hammer move on his rivals.
There are immense possibilities in the political landscape, but it is certain that the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will fuel the ambitions of the Prime Ministerial candidate and as in 2004 and 2009 play a pivotal role in the government formation.
But it is the individual with loads of patience and the tactics and war strategy of Tsung Zu who would romp home. In this scenario, perhaps the YSR Congress will overarch itself when the EVMs get unlocked in 2019.
