VV Balakrishna
Express News Service
First Published : 11 Aug 2010 03:34:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 11 Aug 2010 11:53:46 AM IST
VIJAYAWADA: In the face of existential crisis, the CPM has pushed all talk of internal bickerings under the carpet and put up a united front here on Tuesday. Taking a moral high ground, the party’s Central Committee backed the decision to withdraw support to the UPA-I over the Indo-US nuclear deal ahead of the previous general elections and decided to make the battle for Bengal, a national issue. In the process, it gave its general secretary Prakash Karat, a vocal opponent of the nuclear deal, a fresh lease of life.
“The Central Committee meeting endorsed the stand taken by the party to withdraw support to UPA-1 and felt that it was correct and necessary,’’ said Karat, who had drawn flak from his comrades for the decision which resulted in a Congress-Trinamool alliance in West Bengal.
Briefing reporters on the decisions of the Central Committee meeting, Karat said the committee had, however, felt the timing of the withdrawal of support was not correct. “We should have done it a few days earlier, i.e., before the government held talks with the IAEA and agreed to the conditions set by the US. The CPM should have been more vigilant and should not have allowed the government to go for talks with the IAEA,’’ Karat said. Karat did not agree with the view that the decision forced the Congress to cosy up to the Trinamool.
The endorsement of the nuke decision is being seen as the Central Committee’s willingness to toe the Karat line, despite rumblings in the party’s Bengal unit.
On the crucial Bengal question, the Central Committee decided to make the party problem a national issue. It called upon the party units in all states to take up programmes between September 12 and 18 across the nation highlighting the situation in Bengal and the nexus between the TMC and Maoists. The committee, at a meeting here on Tuesday, endorsed the draft review report and the draft political resolution. It decided to maintain equi-distance from both the Congress and the BJP. “We will launch our agitational programmes independently. Besides, we will try for the unity of the Left and work together with regional parties like TDP, which have secular credentials,’’ Karat said.
He said the political line of the party was to oppose the neo-liberal policies of the Congress-led UPA and Hindutva agenda of the BJP. The BJP was pushing forward its communal agenda in states, where it was in power, he added. He said that the eleven tasks mentioned in the draft political resolution would be taken up by the party.
The CC meeting discussed the decision of the party to withdraw support to the UPA and how to proceed on Bengal and Kerala elections. "We will discuss in detail the Kashmir issue in our next CC meeting,’’ Karat said.
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Morale booster ahead of polls
VV Balakrishna
Express News Service
First Published : 11 Aug 2010 03:35:35 AM IST
Last Updated : 11 Aug 2010 12:04:51 PM IST
VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada meet turned out to be the much-needed morale booster to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) months ahead of a tough electoral battle in Kerala and West Bengal. Known as the 'red fort’, the city that witnessed many a Left movement lived up to its name on Tuesday. With a huge turnout of peasants, workers, youth and women for the public meeting to mark the conclusion of the party’s four-day extended Central Committee meeting, the city turned into a red sea much to the elation of senior leaders. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and politburo member Sitaram Yechury acknowledged the renewed enthusiasm generated by the meet in the party. “No one can bring down the red flag,” remarked an overwhelmed Yechury. “Hitler, Rajakars, Indira and others have failed to stop the Red march. This meeting should send a stern warning to the forces which are trying bring down the red flag. As long as inequalities persist in the country, the red flag will be carried forward by the masses and it will fly high,” Yechury said. The meeting was a fitting reply to those who doubted the future of the party, he added. On the killing of CPM workers in Bengal, Yechury said they could not be cowed down by the killings by the Maoists. “If a worker dies, the philosophy will not die. As long as our blood is red, the Marxist ideology will remain,” he averred.
Prakash Karat said they would fight against both Congress and BJP-led fronts in the country. Attacking the Maoists, Karat said that they (Maoists) were holding the red flag and attacking the red flag (CPM). “The heinous face of Maoists will be thoroughly exposed,” he said.
Accusing the UPA of being pro-rich, Karat suggested universal public distribution system in the country where all the citizens, excluding the rich, would have one type of ration card.
Earlier, the CPM cadre took out two impressive rallies in the city, one from the municipal office and the other from the Benz Circle.
Express News Service
First Published : 11 Aug 2010 03:35:35 AM IST
Last Updated : 11 Aug 2010 12:04:51 PM IST
VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada meet turned out to be the much-needed morale booster to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) months ahead of a tough electoral battle in Kerala and West Bengal. Known as the 'red fort’, the city that witnessed many a Left movement lived up to its name on Tuesday. With a huge turnout of peasants, workers, youth and women for the public meeting to mark the conclusion of the party’s four-day extended Central Committee meeting, the city turned into a red sea much to the elation of senior leaders. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and politburo member Sitaram Yechury acknowledged the renewed enthusiasm generated by the meet in the party. “No one can bring down the red flag,” remarked an overwhelmed Yechury. “Hitler, Rajakars, Indira and others have failed to stop the Red march. This meeting should send a stern warning to the forces which are trying bring down the red flag. As long as inequalities persist in the country, the red flag will be carried forward by the masses and it will fly high,” Yechury said. The meeting was a fitting reply to those who doubted the future of the party, he added. On the killing of CPM workers in Bengal, Yechury said they could not be cowed down by the killings by the Maoists. “If a worker dies, the philosophy will not die. As long as our blood is red, the Marxist ideology will remain,” he averred.
Prakash Karat said they would fight against both Congress and BJP-led fronts in the country. Attacking the Maoists, Karat said that they (Maoists) were holding the red flag and attacking the red flag (CPM). “The heinous face of Maoists will be thoroughly exposed,” he said.
Accusing the UPA of being pro-rich, Karat suggested universal public distribution system in the country where all the citizens, excluding the rich, would have one type of ration card.
Earlier, the CPM cadre took out two impressive rallies in the city, one from the municipal office and the other from the Benz Circle.
Didi gives comrades a splitting headache
THE CPM is desperately hoping for a division of Opposition votes to continue its supremacy in West Bengal and stay put at the Writer's Building after May 2011 Assembly elections. "Opposition unity poses a threat to Left forces in Bengal,'' CPM politburo member Sitarm Yechuri said here on Monday while admitting that the CPM had been losing ground in the State election after election.
The united Opposition have 51 per cent votes, whereas the Left's vote share remained at 49 per cent in Bengal. The comrades, who are seeking to win the Assembly polls for the eighth time in a row since 1977, however, appeared clueless on how to stem the Trinamool tide.
The party's extended Central Committee adopted a political resolution on Bengal and Kerala exuding confidence.
"The present challenge will also be met like the earlier ones have been,'' the resolution stated. Notwithstanding this boasting, it is clear that the party's ideology and its desire to stay in power are on a collision course. For now, the party's strategy appears to be to take Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool head-on and go soft on the Congress, never mind the Nuclear Liabilities Bill and the price rise issues.
The comrades upped the ante on the TMC alleging that Mamata's colleagues, including a few Union Ministers, were rubbing shoulders with the Maoists. "The Congress and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should answer how do they view Union Ministers rubbing shoulders with the Maoists,'' Sitaram Yechuri demanded.
The noises being made by the party leaders have given rise to speculation over whether the party might send feelers to the Congress for a tie-up. But sources said no discussion on a possible alliance with the Congress had taken place at the extended Central Committee meeting.
Asked whether the CPM's decision to withdraw support to the UPA-1 had dented the party's prospects in West Bengal, Yechuri said: "It is all past. Now, we are talking about the present''. However, it is not clear if the CPM central committee will continue to fight against the neo-liberal policies of the Congress at the Centre. From Yechuri's comments, it appears the party may tone down its rhetoric against the Congress. "The CPM never called the Congress a communal party," Yechuri claimed, contradicting party general secretary Prakash Karat's statement that the Congress-led alliance in Kerala was courting "communal forces."
The political resolution too carefully avoided tagging communal elements to the Congress. "The TMC had, on earlier occasions, openly aligned and shared power with the BJP at the Centre. The `change' offered by Mamata is anti-democratic and anti-development," it read.
The united Opposition have 51 per cent votes, whereas the Left's vote share remained at 49 per cent in Bengal. The comrades, who are seeking to win the Assembly polls for the eighth time in a row since 1977, however, appeared clueless on how to stem the Trinamool tide.
The party's extended Central Committee adopted a political resolution on Bengal and Kerala exuding confidence.
"The present challenge will also be met like the earlier ones have been,'' the resolution stated. Notwithstanding this boasting, it is clear that the party's ideology and its desire to stay in power are on a collision course. For now, the party's strategy appears to be to take Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool head-on and go soft on the Congress, never mind the Nuclear Liabilities Bill and the price rise issues.
The comrades upped the ante on the TMC alleging that Mamata's colleagues, including a few Union Ministers, were rubbing shoulders with the Maoists. "The Congress and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should answer how do they view Union Ministers rubbing shoulders with the Maoists,'' Sitaram Yechuri demanded.
The noises being made by the party leaders have given rise to speculation over whether the party might send feelers to the Congress for a tie-up. But sources said no discussion on a possible alliance with the Congress had taken place at the extended Central Committee meeting.
Asked whether the CPM's decision to withdraw support to the UPA-1 had dented the party's prospects in West Bengal, Yechuri said: "It is all past. Now, we are talking about the present''. However, it is not clear if the CPM central committee will continue to fight against the neo-liberal policies of the Congress at the Centre. From Yechuri's comments, it appears the party may tone down its rhetoric against the Congress. "The CPM never called the Congress a communal party," Yechuri claimed, contradicting party general secretary Prakash Karat's statement that the Congress-led alliance in Kerala was courting "communal forces."
The political resolution too carefully avoided tagging communal elements to the Congress. "The TMC had, on earlier occasions, openly aligned and shared power with the BJP at the Centre. The `change' offered by Mamata is anti-democratic and anti-development," it read.
Yechuri treads a fine line between Church & Muslims
While opposing the entry of Church into politics in Kerala, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechuri on Monday tried to woo Muslims in West Bengal saying that the West Bengal government had recently decided to implement the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission Report, including granting 10 per cent reservations to them in jobs.
Speaking to reporters after releasing the party's resolution on the forthcoming elections in Kerala and Bengal, Yechuri opposed the entry of churches into politics. "With all due respects to the Church, I can say that religion has its space and politics has its space. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF is trying to consolidate all the communal and caste forces around it. Sections of the Church are openly interfering in political affairs by conducting an anti-Communist campaign. Muslim and Hindu extremist forces are bracing themselves to disturb communal harmony in order to create political polarisation," he said.
The resolution stated that despite the "nefarious" activities of extremists and communal forces, Kerala continues to maintain its excellent record of communal harmony. The resolution was mostly devoted to explain the "rapid" progress witnessed in the states under the CPM rule. "The LDF government in Kerala has taken forward its welfare legacy and currently has the largest number of welfare schemes amongst all states of India," it claimed.
When half-a-million houses proposed under the EMS housing scheme are completed, there would be no family in Kerala without a house, the resolution claimed. In the agriculture sector, the measures adopted by the State government have been successful in putting an end to the suicides of farmers, it said and praised its government. However, Kerala Chief Minister Atchuthanandan wasn't present at the meeting to accept the praises.
The resolution observed that the ruling classes had mounted a concerted offensive against the CPM, in its strong bastions, in order to weaken the resistance to their unbridled loot through the neo-liberal economic trajectory. The Assembly elections in May 2011 in Bengal and Kerala will be a major battle between the forces representing the interests of working people and those representing interests of capitalists, it said.
Speaking to reporters after releasing the party's resolution on the forthcoming elections in Kerala and Bengal, Yechuri opposed the entry of churches into politics. "With all due respects to the Church, I can say that religion has its space and politics has its space. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF is trying to consolidate all the communal and caste forces around it. Sections of the Church are openly interfering in political affairs by conducting an anti-Communist campaign. Muslim and Hindu extremist forces are bracing themselves to disturb communal harmony in order to create political polarisation," he said.
The resolution stated that despite the "nefarious" activities of extremists and communal forces, Kerala continues to maintain its excellent record of communal harmony. The resolution was mostly devoted to explain the "rapid" progress witnessed in the states under the CPM rule. "The LDF government in Kerala has taken forward its welfare legacy and currently has the largest number of welfare schemes amongst all states of India," it claimed.
When half-a-million houses proposed under the EMS housing scheme are completed, there would be no family in Kerala without a house, the resolution claimed. In the agriculture sector, the measures adopted by the State government have been successful in putting an end to the suicides of farmers, it said and praised its government. However, Kerala Chief Minister Atchuthanandan wasn't present at the meeting to accept the praises.
The resolution observed that the ruling classes had mounted a concerted offensive against the CPM, in its strong bastions, in order to weaken the resistance to their unbridled loot through the neo-liberal economic trajectory. The Assembly elections in May 2011 in Bengal and Kerala will be a major battle between the forces representing the interests of working people and those representing interests of capitalists, it said.
On Telangana: No change
The recent bypolls in Telangana may have been a ringing declaration of the people's support to separate statehood, but the CPM will not change its position on the Telangana question.
“Creation of smaller states by breaking up the bigger states will be harmful for the federal set-up. These states will be more dependent on the Centre,'' the party said in its draft political resolution circulated to the extended meeting of the central committee. The party felt that smaller states would be easily exploited by big business and multinational corporations. “If there are backward regions in a state, special measures should be adopted for the socioeconomic development of that area. There can be provision for regional autonomy, if required,” it says.
The party was of the view that the demand for a separate Telangana state received a fillip after the Centre announced its intention to take steps towards a T state in response to the hunger strike by TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao but backtracked in the face of protests in the other regions of the state. The hasty stand of the Centre led to the revival of demands for separate states in various parts of the country, the Left party said.
“Creation of smaller states by breaking up the bigger states will be harmful for the federal set-up. These states will be more dependent on the Centre,'' the party said in its draft political resolution circulated to the extended meeting of the central committee. The party felt that smaller states would be easily exploited by big business and multinational corporations. “If there are backward regions in a state, special measures should be adopted for the socioeconomic development of that area. There can be provision for regional autonomy, if required,” it says.
The party was of the view that the demand for a separate Telangana state received a fillip after the Centre announced its intention to take steps towards a T state in response to the hunger strike by TRS president K Chandrasekhara Rao but backtracked in the face of protests in the other regions of the state. The hasty stand of the Centre led to the revival of demands for separate states in various parts of the country, the Left party said.
CPM cuts out 11 tasks for recovery
TAG
* 11-KARAT GOAL
GRAPHIC
TASKS BEFORE THE CPM
1. Fight the whole gamut of neo-liberal policies
2. Fight at two levels: all-India and in the states
3. Fight Hindutva activities and minority communalism
4. Oppose Indo-US strategic alliance and rally patriotic, democratic sections
against it
5. Oppose Congress-led UPA, prime mover of neo-liberal policies
6. Isolate BJP, which also advocates neo-liberal policies, by rallying secular forces
7. Forge electoral understanding with non-Congress secular parties
8. Struggle against Maoists' disruptive activities
9. Defend CPM and the Left in West Bengal
10. Draw the masses, peasants, farm workers, artisans into a united struggle
11. Champion the rights of dalits, tribals, minorities, women and other oppressed
sections
The CPM has cut out the tasks for its rank and file to regain the ground it has ceded in recent years. On the first-day of the party's extended central committee meeting today, which was attended by around 350 delegates including top brass of the party, the party drafted a political resolution sketching an 11-point plan by which it hopes to emerge as an alternative secular force in the country.
The resolution stresses the need to expand the party base beyond West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura where its strongholds are located. ``In the present situation where the strongest base of the party, West Bengal, is under attack, it becomes all the more necessary to expand its influence in other state,'' the resolution states.
While the party thinks it imperative to work with non-Congress and non-BJP regional parties, it decided to project itself as the left and democratic alternative by giving a thrust to Left unity.
Significantly, the resolution highlighted the need to fight both majority and minority communalism. ``The new feature which has emerged in the last three years is Hindutva extremist elements resorting to terrorist violence. Muslim extremist groups are also continuing to resort to extremist methods. Terrorism by both Muslim and Hindu extremists has to be fought and the campaign against them should be taken to the people,'' the resolution says.
The party also feels the need to pay urgent attention to work in the tribal areas and build mass organisations against the violence of Maoists. ``The Maoists represent a degenerated form of ultra-Left adventurism. They serve the interests of the ruling class by targeting the CPM,'' the resolution states.
On the Jammu & Kashmir situation, the CPM feels that the resumption of the Indo-Pakistan dialogue will help in creating an atmosphere to carry forward the political process. ``Without provision of maximum autonomy for the state and regional autonomy for the three regions within the state, there can be no progress towards a political solution,'' the resolution notes.
To achieve these goals, the CPM leadership underscored the steps to be taken within the party, including streamlining the organisation along the principles of democratic centralism. It also noted the need to enhance the political-ideological awareness of party members and adopt a correct approach to mass organisations.
* 11-KARAT GOAL
GRAPHIC
TASKS BEFORE THE CPM
1. Fight the whole gamut of neo-liberal policies
2. Fight at two levels: all-India and in the states
3. Fight Hindutva activities and minority communalism
4. Oppose Indo-US strategic alliance and rally patriotic, democratic sections
against it
5. Oppose Congress-led UPA, prime mover of neo-liberal policies
6. Isolate BJP, which also advocates neo-liberal policies, by rallying secular forces
7. Forge electoral understanding with non-Congress secular parties
8. Struggle against Maoists' disruptive activities
9. Defend CPM and the Left in West Bengal
10. Draw the masses, peasants, farm workers, artisans into a united struggle
11. Champion the rights of dalits, tribals, minorities, women and other oppressed
sections
The CPM has cut out the tasks for its rank and file to regain the ground it has ceded in recent years. On the first-day of the party's extended central committee meeting today, which was attended by around 350 delegates including top brass of the party, the party drafted a political resolution sketching an 11-point plan by which it hopes to emerge as an alternative secular force in the country.
The resolution stresses the need to expand the party base beyond West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura where its strongholds are located. ``In the present situation where the strongest base of the party, West Bengal, is under attack, it becomes all the more necessary to expand its influence in other state,'' the resolution states.
While the party thinks it imperative to work with non-Congress and non-BJP regional parties, it decided to project itself as the left and democratic alternative by giving a thrust to Left unity.
Significantly, the resolution highlighted the need to fight both majority and minority communalism. ``The new feature which has emerged in the last three years is Hindutva extremist elements resorting to terrorist violence. Muslim extremist groups are also continuing to resort to extremist methods. Terrorism by both Muslim and Hindu extremists has to be fought and the campaign against them should be taken to the people,'' the resolution says.
The party also feels the need to pay urgent attention to work in the tribal areas and build mass organisations against the violence of Maoists. ``The Maoists represent a degenerated form of ultra-Left adventurism. They serve the interests of the ruling class by targeting the CPM,'' the resolution states.
On the Jammu & Kashmir situation, the CPM feels that the resumption of the Indo-Pakistan dialogue will help in creating an atmosphere to carry forward the political process. ``Without provision of maximum autonomy for the state and regional autonomy for the three regions within the state, there can be no progress towards a political solution,'' the resolution notes.
To achieve these goals, the CPM leadership underscored the steps to be taken within the party, including streamlining the organisation along the principles of democratic centralism. It also noted the need to enhance the political-ideological awareness of party members and adopt a correct approach to mass organisations.
CPM mum on leadership change
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 10 Aug 2010 03:43:59 AM IST
Last Updated : 10 Aug 2010 12:36:32 PM IST
VIJAYAWADA: Will the CPM leadership project leaders other than the incumbents as chief ministerial candidates in Kerala and West Bengal in the forthcoming elections? Though there were rumours that VS Atchuthanandan will be replaced by another leader in Kerala, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury evaded a direct reply on the issue and swiftly moved to answer another query at a press briefing here on Monday.
Asked if some of the sitting MLAs would be dropped in both the states, he said elections were due in eight months and there was a lot of time to finalise candidates. On whether the CPM would launch its own news channel, as the party was upset with the ‘corporate media’, he said the party had no such economic strength to start a news channel.
On the Singur land acquisition, the CPM leader said 12,000 people claimed compensation from the government for 997 acres.
He defended the Bengal government’s decision to go for massive industrialisation. The land reforms were completed in the state and the only alternative was to go for industrialisation to provide jobs, he explained.
Comments
THE PARTY HAVING DESTROYED TWO STATES BEYOND REDEMPTION WANTS TO INFILTRATE INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHICH ATTEMPT HAS TO BE DEFEATED ..MR.KARAT PL COME TO KERALA WHAT YOUR CPM MEN ARE DOING .. ONLY APOLLO TYRES REMAINS TO EXIST WHICH IS NOW UNDER LOCK OUT !! COLLEGES ARE NOT WORKING AS YOUR GOONDAS DESTROY PROPERTIES OF COLLEGES STARTEDBY CATHOLIC MANAGEMENTS STARTED BY BANK BORROWINGS . CPM HAS STARTED AMUSEMENT PARKS AND AMUSEMENT CHANNELS .CATHOLIC CHURCH HAD PROVIDED OVER A LAC OF LP SCHOOLS ETC ETC TO EDUCATE CHILDREN OF SC/ST AND OTHER DOWNTRODDEN PEOPLE. BUT NOT A SINGLE LP SCHOOL STARTED BY THIS WORKING CLASS PARTY. AS THERE IS NO CHANCE OF WINNING ANY ELECTION ,THIS SECULAR PARTY HAS STOOPED TO THE HINDUTVA TACTICS .ASK ANY BODY IN KERALA THEY WILL VOUCH IT
By TARUN DAS
8/10/2010 4:36:00 PM
Post your comments
First Published : 10 Aug 2010 03:43:59 AM IST
Last Updated : 10 Aug 2010 12:36:32 PM IST
VIJAYAWADA: Will the CPM leadership project leaders other than the incumbents as chief ministerial candidates in Kerala and West Bengal in the forthcoming elections? Though there were rumours that VS Atchuthanandan will be replaced by another leader in Kerala, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury evaded a direct reply on the issue and swiftly moved to answer another query at a press briefing here on Monday.
Asked if some of the sitting MLAs would be dropped in both the states, he said elections were due in eight months and there was a lot of time to finalise candidates. On whether the CPM would launch its own news channel, as the party was upset with the ‘corporate media’, he said the party had no such economic strength to start a news channel.
On the Singur land acquisition, the CPM leader said 12,000 people claimed compensation from the government for 997 acres.
He defended the Bengal government’s decision to go for massive industrialisation. The land reforms were completed in the state and the only alternative was to go for industrialisation to provide jobs, he explained.
Comments
THE PARTY HAVING DESTROYED TWO STATES BEYOND REDEMPTION WANTS TO INFILTRATE INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHICH ATTEMPT HAS TO BE DEFEATED ..MR.KARAT PL COME TO KERALA WHAT YOUR CPM MEN ARE DOING .. ONLY APOLLO TYRES REMAINS TO EXIST WHICH IS NOW UNDER LOCK OUT !! COLLEGES ARE NOT WORKING AS YOUR GOONDAS DESTROY PROPERTIES OF COLLEGES STARTEDBY CATHOLIC MANAGEMENTS STARTED BY BANK BORROWINGS . CPM HAS STARTED AMUSEMENT PARKS AND AMUSEMENT CHANNELS .CATHOLIC CHURCH HAD PROVIDED OVER A LAC OF LP SCHOOLS ETC ETC TO EDUCATE CHILDREN OF SC/ST AND OTHER DOWNTRODDEN PEOPLE. BUT NOT A SINGLE LP SCHOOL STARTED BY THIS WORKING CLASS PARTY. AS THERE IS NO CHANCE OF WINNING ANY ELECTION ,THIS SECULAR PARTY HAS STOOPED TO THE HINDUTVA TACTICS .ASK ANY BODY IN KERALA THEY WILL VOUCH IT
By TARUN DAS
8/10/2010 4:36:00 PM
Post your comments
Yechury tries to woo Muslims
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 10 Aug 2010 03:42:39 AM IST
Last Updated : 10 Aug 2010 11:59:21 AM IST
VIJAYAWADA: While opposing the entry of Church into politics in Kerala, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury on Monday tried to woo Muslims in West Bengal saying that the West Bengal government had recently decided to implement the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission Report, including granting 10 per cent reservations to them in jobs.
Speaking to reporters after releasing the party’s resolution on the forthcoming elections in Kerala and Bengal, Yechury opposed the entry of the church into politics.
“With all due respects to the Church, I can say that religion has its space and politics has its space. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF is trying to consolidate all the communal and caste forces around it. Sections of the Church are openly interfering in political affairs by conducting an anti- Communist campaign. Muslim and Hindu extremist forces are bracing themselves to disturb communal harmony in order to create political polarisation,” he said.
The resolution stated that despite the “nefarious” activities of extremists and communal forces, Kerala continues to maintain its excellent record of communal harmony. The resolution was mostly devoted to explain the “rapid” progress witnessed in the states under the CPM rule.
“The LDF government in Kerala has taken forward its welfare legacy and currently has the largest number of welfare schemes amongst all states of India,” it claimed.
When half-a-million houses proposed under the EMS housing scheme are completed, there would be no family in Kerala without a house, the resolution claimed.
In the agriculture sector, the measures adopted by the State government have been successful in putting an end to the suicides of farmers, it said and praised its government. However, Kerala Chief Minister Atchuthanandan wasn’t present at the meeting to accept the praises.
The resolution observed that the ruling classes had mounted a concerted offensive against the CPM, in its strong bastions, in order to weaken the resistance to their unbridled loot through the neo-liberal economic trajectory. The Assembly elections in May 2011 in Bengal and Kerala will be a major battle between the forces representing the interests of working people and those representing interests of capitalists, it said.
First Published : 10 Aug 2010 03:42:39 AM IST
Last Updated : 10 Aug 2010 11:59:21 AM IST
VIJAYAWADA: While opposing the entry of Church into politics in Kerala, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury on Monday tried to woo Muslims in West Bengal saying that the West Bengal government had recently decided to implement the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission Report, including granting 10 per cent reservations to them in jobs.
Speaking to reporters after releasing the party’s resolution on the forthcoming elections in Kerala and Bengal, Yechury opposed the entry of the church into politics.
“With all due respects to the Church, I can say that religion has its space and politics has its space. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF is trying to consolidate all the communal and caste forces around it. Sections of the Church are openly interfering in political affairs by conducting an anti- Communist campaign. Muslim and Hindu extremist forces are bracing themselves to disturb communal harmony in order to create political polarisation,” he said.
The resolution stated that despite the “nefarious” activities of extremists and communal forces, Kerala continues to maintain its excellent record of communal harmony. The resolution was mostly devoted to explain the “rapid” progress witnessed in the states under the CPM rule.
“The LDF government in Kerala has taken forward its welfare legacy and currently has the largest number of welfare schemes amongst all states of India,” it claimed.
When half-a-million houses proposed under the EMS housing scheme are completed, there would be no family in Kerala without a house, the resolution claimed.
In the agriculture sector, the measures adopted by the State government have been successful in putting an end to the suicides of farmers, it said and praised its government. However, Kerala Chief Minister Atchuthanandan wasn’t present at the meeting to accept the praises.
The resolution observed that the ruling classes had mounted a concerted offensive against the CPM, in its strong bastions, in order to weaken the resistance to their unbridled loot through the neo-liberal economic trajectory. The Assembly elections in May 2011 in Bengal and Kerala will be a major battle between the forces representing the interests of working people and those representing interests of capitalists, it said.
Comrades grapple with existential questions
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 09 Aug 2010 03:21:56 AM IST
Last Updated :
VIJAYAWADA: When the CPM's extended Central Committee meeting started discussing its draft political resolution here on Sunday, the big question before the comrades was how to retain power in West Bengal and Kerala where elections are due next May.
To start with, the party big wigs admitted that the situation was unfavourable. In West Bengal, the CPM, which has never lost Assembly elections for nearly three decades, is facing a serious threat from the Trinamool Congress-Congress combine. The Nandigram and Singur episodes further compounded the comrades' misery. If that is the situation in West Bengal, the party's other citadel Kerala too is crumbling. The infighting in the party's Kerala unit was reflected in the conspicuous absence of Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan at the Central Committee meeting here. However, party general secretary Prakash Karat said the Chief Minister could not make it as he was undergoing ayurvedic treatment. Achuthanandan had attended the Central Committee meeting three weeks back in Delhi, he pointed out. But his explanation did not carry conviction as four other comrades from Kerala too skipped the meeting ostensibly to undergo treatment.
Retaining power in Kerala and West Bengal is necessary for the future of the party in the country. In Bengal, the party has taken steps to remove organisational bottlenecks and reforge links with the people. But the situation as the committee felt was far from satisfactory. "The multi-pronged attack on the CPM cadre is meant to weaken the entire Left movement in the country,'' the CPM leadership observed. In Kerala, the party said, the Congress-led UDF was consolidating communal and reactionary forces behind it, particularly after the Lok Sabha polls.
The fact that the comrades were preoccupied with these two states was amply reflected in the speeches of the delegates, almost all of whom spoke mostly on the need to revive the party in the two states. The Central Committee is set to adopt a resolution on the two states on Monday. It has identified remedial steps to win back the confidence of voters in the states.
As for the other States, the central leadership was candid enough to admit it had made no headway in the Hindi heartland. "There is no substantial advance in other states,'' the draft resolution stated.
The committee sought to set at rest speculation over internal bickerings in the party particularly over withdrawing support to UPA-I govt on the controversial Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. "There is no basis for such reports. There is no discussion on such lines,'' a party delegate from Andhra Pradesh clarified.
First Published : 09 Aug 2010 03:21:56 AM IST
Last Updated :
VIJAYAWADA: When the CPM's extended Central Committee meeting started discussing its draft political resolution here on Sunday, the big question before the comrades was how to retain power in West Bengal and Kerala where elections are due next May.
To start with, the party big wigs admitted that the situation was unfavourable. In West Bengal, the CPM, which has never lost Assembly elections for nearly three decades, is facing a serious threat from the Trinamool Congress-Congress combine. The Nandigram and Singur episodes further compounded the comrades' misery. If that is the situation in West Bengal, the party's other citadel Kerala too is crumbling. The infighting in the party's Kerala unit was reflected in the conspicuous absence of Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan at the Central Committee meeting here. However, party general secretary Prakash Karat said the Chief Minister could not make it as he was undergoing ayurvedic treatment. Achuthanandan had attended the Central Committee meeting three weeks back in Delhi, he pointed out. But his explanation did not carry conviction as four other comrades from Kerala too skipped the meeting ostensibly to undergo treatment.
Retaining power in Kerala and West Bengal is necessary for the future of the party in the country. In Bengal, the party has taken steps to remove organisational bottlenecks and reforge links with the people. But the situation as the committee felt was far from satisfactory. "The multi-pronged attack on the CPM cadre is meant to weaken the entire Left movement in the country,'' the CPM leadership observed. In Kerala, the party said, the Congress-led UDF was consolidating communal and reactionary forces behind it, particularly after the Lok Sabha polls.
The fact that the comrades were preoccupied with these two states was amply reflected in the speeches of the delegates, almost all of whom spoke mostly on the need to revive the party in the two states. The Central Committee is set to adopt a resolution on the two states on Monday. It has identified remedial steps to win back the confidence of voters in the states.
As for the other States, the central leadership was candid enough to admit it had made no headway in the Hindi heartland. "There is no substantial advance in other states,'' the draft resolution stated.
The committee sought to set at rest speculation over internal bickerings in the party particularly over withdrawing support to UPA-I govt on the controversial Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. "There is no basis for such reports. There is no discussion on such lines,'' a party delegate from Andhra Pradesh clarified.
'Centre should clear stand on rally'
V V Balakrishna
Express News Service
First Published : 08 Aug 2010 11:52:00 PM IST
Last Updated : 09 Aug 2010 12:41:32 PM IST
VIJAYAWADA :CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday demanded that the Central Government should spell out how it was viewing the ‘joint-rally’ by Trinamool Congress and Maoists in Lalgarh on Monday.
Karat told reporters that though the Trinamool stated that it was organising the rally on a non-political platform, the rally was supported by the Maoists.
“How the Centre will view the joint collaboration” Karat asked as several Union Ministers of Trinamool were participating in the rally.
Recalling the Union Home Minister’s statement that there was no evidence of nexus between the Trinamool and Maoists, Karat wondered what the Centre would say on the joint-rally.
However, Karat supported the party’s stand on going aggressively against Trinamool and sparing the West Bengal Congress.
“Trinamool, which is resorting to attacks on our cadre, is our main target”.
“The Congress is a junior partner in the alliance,” Karat explained.
Asked about withdrawing the support to UPA-1 Government and forging a third alternative in the Lok Sabha elections, Karat said that the party’s stand was correct irrespective of electoral reverses.
However, he, clarified that the third alternative was not on the Left’s immediate agenda.
He said the party would work with regional parties which had secular credentials on various issues.
Karat also ruled out the possibility of CPM moving closer to the NDA or the BJP.
“Four comrades, including Achuthanandan, were absent at the meeting, as they were undergoing ayurvedic treatment,” Karat said.
Express News Service
First Published : 08 Aug 2010 11:52:00 PM IST
Last Updated : 09 Aug 2010 12:41:32 PM IST
VIJAYAWADA :CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday demanded that the Central Government should spell out how it was viewing the ‘joint-rally’ by Trinamool Congress and Maoists in Lalgarh on Monday.
Karat told reporters that though the Trinamool stated that it was organising the rally on a non-political platform, the rally was supported by the Maoists.
“How the Centre will view the joint collaboration” Karat asked as several Union Ministers of Trinamool were participating in the rally.
Recalling the Union Home Minister’s statement that there was no evidence of nexus between the Trinamool and Maoists, Karat wondered what the Centre would say on the joint-rally.
However, Karat supported the party’s stand on going aggressively against Trinamool and sparing the West Bengal Congress.
“Trinamool, which is resorting to attacks on our cadre, is our main target”.
“The Congress is a junior partner in the alliance,” Karat explained.
Asked about withdrawing the support to UPA-1 Government and forging a third alternative in the Lok Sabha elections, Karat said that the party’s stand was correct irrespective of electoral reverses.
However, he, clarified that the third alternative was not on the Left’s immediate agenda.
He said the party would work with regional parties which had secular credentials on various issues.
Karat also ruled out the possibility of CPM moving closer to the NDA or the BJP.
“Four comrades, including Achuthanandan, were absent at the meeting, as they were undergoing ayurvedic treatment,” Karat said.
Tax the rich to pay for the poor: Prakash Karat
V V Balakrishna
First Published : 08 Aug 2010 12:36:25 AM IST
Last Updated : 08 Aug 2010 11:01:16 AM IST
VIJAYAWADA: Expressing serious concern over rampant corruption, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Saturday suggested that more taxes should be levied on corporates and affluent sections to generate funds for developmental programmes.
In his inaugural address at the four-day extended meeting of the CPM central committee which began here on Saturday, Karat said, “Speculative capital flows must be regulated and profits from such foreign institutional investment taxed. Steps should be taken to recover illegal money kept in tax havens and secret bank accounts. Corporates and affluent sections should pay more taxes. It is with the increased tax revenue that there can be increased public expenditure on education, health and social welfare.”
He lamented that every institution of the state and every pore of society was getting polluted and corrupted. The nexus between big business and politics was now out in the open.
“Public policy making has been suborned to serve the interests of the rich and powerful strata. Corruption, through the siphoning off of public funds, preys on the common people who find their rations and other entitlements vanishing into the pockets of a corrupt and greedy nexus of bureaucrats-politicians-contractors,” Karat alleged.
The CPM leader said, things have reached such a stage where the mining mafia of the Bellary brothers was dictating the politics in Karnataka and also influencing political events in Andhra Pradesh.
Karat also found fault with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for accepting and implementing what captains of big businesses in the US and India propose. “The agenda for all anti-people policies is being propelled by the Indo-US CEO Forum,” he alleged.
On the party’s performance, Karat said that the CPM suffered reverses in both West Bengal and Kerala in the Lok Sabha polls. “The party has identified steps to be taken to remedy the situation. We should do our utmost so that people of both states renew their faith in the party,” he said.
Comments
Golden words from Karat....meant for whom..? For the poor and downtrodden, who are forced to remain like that as a strong cadre force for political parties...? Is working hard... wrong ? When U work harder, U earn more money....Then, is taking that money as a recognition of working harder..is wrong...? Are U suggesting to penalise people who work hard(er)....??? Confusing words from a (supposedly)senior and trusted(atleast by some) political leader.....!!
By gopa varma
8/10/2010 11:29:00 AM
What is the difference between Indian communism and Chinese communism? Chinese communists embraced capitalism during the ping-pong diplomacy of Henry Kissinger. The attitude of love and mercy and freedom of expression and respect of human dignity is theo-centric and only a genuine search for a truthful vision will be a beatitude for INDIA.
By I:C.S
8/9/2010 10:36:00 PM
Lets start with Mr Karat and his family first
By V
8/9/2010 3:23:00 PM
We get what we deserve. Majority of people have been corrupted by the big government controlling everything. Basic necessities are scarce and people have to get it by hook or crook. The honest people have become a minority. It has become difficult to be honest in India. Out dated Commies may loose their national party status if not in the next election then in the following one. We should not worry about Karat and Company. Corruption can be reduced by reducing the size of government. We need more people thinking along these lines and electing such leaders.
By Suman Kumar Mishr MD
8/8/2010 10:33:00 PM
kindly name one who u find corrupt with some authenticity. in which fivestar hotel u find any of them n when kindly help me to increase my gk.also name one from cpm whom u find travelling firstclass other then what prescribed.
By sps
8/8/2010 5:23:00 PM
whats the point of moderating the comments,freedom of speech and expression is the basic right of democracy.
By dan
8/8/2010 4:42:00 PM
how about this,instead of taxing rich,why dont just audit all the goverment official and what ever cash,gold ,land and other properties also over sees account and false companies set up by their relatives that are not reported on their tax seized and liquidated .i bet will create enough revenue that there will be no need to tax rich hard working class people who dream big and create jobs and keeps the nation economy going.and also dont forget to check govt official pockets you will find something in there to thats not been reported to govt .time to rise and wake up dont be fooled by these fools.
By dan
8/8/2010 4:39:00 PM
Don't we have ignorantly arrogant and egoistically and despotically anthropo-centric materialism in our democratic furniture?
By i
8/8/2010 4:38:00 PM
Sri Karat the known rich are dying paying taxes, but the richer and the richest not knwn are the Politicians and govt officials, who are stinking in public money sqaunder, can mr Karat any politician who is not rich, and yet in politics and surviving, these rich have unlimited power utility, and money flows with their nod, who paid taxes for Bofors-Fodder-the tele com scam-the sugar scam-the iron ore mining scam the lefts undisclosed income for 3 decades have loads of money in a bankrupt backward w Bengal, you should also know all these people are servants of the people and are enjoying hiegest lifestyle-A/c,cars, personals-bunglows, and of course the trump card i.e the power to make money
By s kumar
8/8/2010 4:17:00 PM
well said Mr. Rajeev Kumar. We the common people are fooled.
By karpaka_rajan_v_Chettiar
8/8/2010 1:01:00 PM
It is not as simple as that Mr Karat..!!! Do you mean to say that by imposing a tax of Rs 100/= on the rich will ensure that it will automatically each the poor ? I am afraid not..!! 70% goes off to the pockets of politicians and officials through rampant corruption....25% is wasted .....and 3% is accounted for cost escalations and finally if ....God willing...may be 1% will reach the poor...!!!! This is a fact in our country. Unless we are willing to change the system and politicians like you make up your mind - by wowing to selfless give work with real 'sacrifice' ......no improvement will happen by merely imposing taxes in the rich....!!! Think about it....!!!!
By Sukumar Vasudevan
8/8/2010 12:50:00 PM
All political parties die swallowing their own lies.CPI -M is also a on death bed.What Communists have done to counter all pervasve corruption?Their Ministers are as corrupt as are those from Congress,BJP,DMK,ADMK,RJD,etc.etc.All have made a secret pact to loot the public and to lead lives that Maharajas of yore would have envied.They all live in Rs 500 - crore palaces in Lutyan`s Delhi,they all travel first class ,lead five star life-styles.Not a single party has tried to appoint a LOK-PAL to tackle corruption at the top.They are all in silent conspiracy to thwart any attempt to fight corruption.What Karat has to say? Rajeev Kumar
By Rajeev Kumar
8/8/2010 11:28:00 AM
Post your comments
First Published : 08 Aug 2010 12:36:25 AM IST
Last Updated : 08 Aug 2010 11:01:16 AM IST
VIJAYAWADA: Expressing serious concern over rampant corruption, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Saturday suggested that more taxes should be levied on corporates and affluent sections to generate funds for developmental programmes.
In his inaugural address at the four-day extended meeting of the CPM central committee which began here on Saturday, Karat said, “Speculative capital flows must be regulated and profits from such foreign institutional investment taxed. Steps should be taken to recover illegal money kept in tax havens and secret bank accounts. Corporates and affluent sections should pay more taxes. It is with the increased tax revenue that there can be increased public expenditure on education, health and social welfare.”
He lamented that every institution of the state and every pore of society was getting polluted and corrupted. The nexus between big business and politics was now out in the open.
“Public policy making has been suborned to serve the interests of the rich and powerful strata. Corruption, through the siphoning off of public funds, preys on the common people who find their rations and other entitlements vanishing into the pockets of a corrupt and greedy nexus of bureaucrats-politicians-contractors,” Karat alleged.
The CPM leader said, things have reached such a stage where the mining mafia of the Bellary brothers was dictating the politics in Karnataka and also influencing political events in Andhra Pradesh.
Karat also found fault with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for accepting and implementing what captains of big businesses in the US and India propose. “The agenda for all anti-people policies is being propelled by the Indo-US CEO Forum,” he alleged.
On the party’s performance, Karat said that the CPM suffered reverses in both West Bengal and Kerala in the Lok Sabha polls. “The party has identified steps to be taken to remedy the situation. We should do our utmost so that people of both states renew their faith in the party,” he said.
Comments
Golden words from Karat....meant for whom..? For the poor and downtrodden, who are forced to remain like that as a strong cadre force for political parties...? Is working hard... wrong ? When U work harder, U earn more money....Then, is taking that money as a recognition of working harder..is wrong...? Are U suggesting to penalise people who work hard(er)....??? Confusing words from a (supposedly)senior and trusted(atleast by some) political leader.....!!
By gopa varma
8/10/2010 11:29:00 AM
What is the difference between Indian communism and Chinese communism? Chinese communists embraced capitalism during the ping-pong diplomacy of Henry Kissinger. The attitude of love and mercy and freedom of expression and respect of human dignity is theo-centric and only a genuine search for a truthful vision will be a beatitude for INDIA.
By I:C.S
8/9/2010 10:36:00 PM
Lets start with Mr Karat and his family first
By V
8/9/2010 3:23:00 PM
We get what we deserve. Majority of people have been corrupted by the big government controlling everything. Basic necessities are scarce and people have to get it by hook or crook. The honest people have become a minority. It has become difficult to be honest in India. Out dated Commies may loose their national party status if not in the next election then in the following one. We should not worry about Karat and Company. Corruption can be reduced by reducing the size of government. We need more people thinking along these lines and electing such leaders.
By Suman Kumar Mishr MD
8/8/2010 10:33:00 PM
kindly name one who u find corrupt with some authenticity. in which fivestar hotel u find any of them n when kindly help me to increase my gk.also name one from cpm whom u find travelling firstclass other then what prescribed.
By sps
8/8/2010 5:23:00 PM
whats the point of moderating the comments,freedom of speech and expression is the basic right of democracy.
By dan
8/8/2010 4:42:00 PM
how about this,instead of taxing rich,why dont just audit all the goverment official and what ever cash,gold ,land and other properties also over sees account and false companies set up by their relatives that are not reported on their tax seized and liquidated .i bet will create enough revenue that there will be no need to tax rich hard working class people who dream big and create jobs and keeps the nation economy going.and also dont forget to check govt official pockets you will find something in there to thats not been reported to govt .time to rise and wake up dont be fooled by these fools.
By dan
8/8/2010 4:39:00 PM
Don't we have ignorantly arrogant and egoistically and despotically anthropo-centric materialism in our democratic furniture?
By i
8/8/2010 4:38:00 PM
Sri Karat the known rich are dying paying taxes, but the richer and the richest not knwn are the Politicians and govt officials, who are stinking in public money sqaunder, can mr Karat any politician who is not rich, and yet in politics and surviving, these rich have unlimited power utility, and money flows with their nod, who paid taxes for Bofors-Fodder-the tele com scam-the sugar scam-the iron ore mining scam the lefts undisclosed income for 3 decades have loads of money in a bankrupt backward w Bengal, you should also know all these people are servants of the people and are enjoying hiegest lifestyle-A/c,cars, personals-bunglows, and of course the trump card i.e the power to make money
By s kumar
8/8/2010 4:17:00 PM
well said Mr. Rajeev Kumar. We the common people are fooled.
By karpaka_rajan_v_Chettiar
8/8/2010 1:01:00 PM
It is not as simple as that Mr Karat..!!! Do you mean to say that by imposing a tax of Rs 100/= on the rich will ensure that it will automatically each the poor ? I am afraid not..!! 70% goes off to the pockets of politicians and officials through rampant corruption....25% is wasted .....and 3% is accounted for cost escalations and finally if ....God willing...may be 1% will reach the poor...!!!! This is a fact in our country. Unless we are willing to change the system and politicians like you make up your mind - by wowing to selfless give work with real 'sacrifice' ......no improvement will happen by merely imposing taxes in the rich....!!! Think about it....!!!!
By Sukumar Vasudevan
8/8/2010 12:50:00 PM
All political parties die swallowing their own lies.CPI -M is also a on death bed.What Communists have done to counter all pervasve corruption?Their Ministers are as corrupt as are those from Congress,BJP,DMK,ADMK,RJD,etc.etc.All have made a secret pact to loot the public and to lead lives that Maharajas of yore would have envied.They all live in Rs 500 - crore palaces in Lutyan`s Delhi,they all travel first class ,lead five star life-styles.Not a single party has tried to appoint a LOK-PAL to tackle corruption at the top.They are all in silent conspiracy to thwart any attempt to fight corruption.What Karat has to say? Rajeev Kumar
By Rajeev Kumar
8/8/2010 11:28:00 AM
Post your comments
Sunday 1 August 2010
Murali Mohan favours bifurcation
Express News Service
First Published : 01 Aug 2010 02:26:52 AM IST
Last Updated : 01 Aug 2010 12:31:09 PM IST
HYDERABAD: “Let us separate and live in harmony rather than live separately in a united state,” opined Movie Artistes’ Association (MAA) president M Murali Mohan.
After the outcome of the by-elections, Murali Mohan felt that separate Telangana demand had become a people’s aspiration. “During Channa Reddy’s movement or when the TRS chief launched it, we thought that the separate state demand was only among leaders. But it is clear now that it has penetrated to the grassroot level,” Murali Mohan told Express.
The victory of TRS candidates was surprising and the winning margins were stunning.
No doubt the people of the region were determined to have a separate state, he said.
In this scenario, it was better to divide the state so that the Telugu’s would live together in harmony. “Let us divide as brothers of one family,” he felt. “Telugus fighting one another or remaining hostile in a united state is not good,” the actor remarked.
“When Andhra separated from Madras, many feared exodus of Telugus would hit development of Madras. But the city continued to develop rapidly and even now 40 percent of its people are Telugus,” Murali Mohan explained.
There would be some initial problems after division, but Hyderabad would continue to develop.
Andhra state too would get a new capital and it would also develop, he said.
The TRS said that even after separation it would roll out a red carpet for investors and businessmen from Andhra, he pointed out.
The continuing uncertainty over the statehood issue was affecting the development of Hyderabad as businesses were incurring losses and investors were keeping away from the city, he said.
Murali Mohan, however, clarified that these were his personal views and not those of the MAA or TDP. Murali Mohan unsuccessfully contested on the TDP ticket from Rajahmundry in 2009 elections.
Comments
Murali Mohan wants to buy peace with TRS lest it should go after him for Jayabheri lands . Let Murali Mohan develop Andhra region and concentrate their if he is really interested in bifurcation.
By raj kumar
8/1/2010 8:34:00 AM
First Published : 01 Aug 2010 02:26:52 AM IST
Last Updated : 01 Aug 2010 12:31:09 PM IST
HYDERABAD: “Let us separate and live in harmony rather than live separately in a united state,” opined Movie Artistes’ Association (MAA) president M Murali Mohan.
After the outcome of the by-elections, Murali Mohan felt that separate Telangana demand had become a people’s aspiration. “During Channa Reddy’s movement or when the TRS chief launched it, we thought that the separate state demand was only among leaders. But it is clear now that it has penetrated to the grassroot level,” Murali Mohan told Express.
The victory of TRS candidates was surprising and the winning margins were stunning.
No doubt the people of the region were determined to have a separate state, he said.
In this scenario, it was better to divide the state so that the Telugu’s would live together in harmony. “Let us divide as brothers of one family,” he felt. “Telugus fighting one another or remaining hostile in a united state is not good,” the actor remarked.
“When Andhra separated from Madras, many feared exodus of Telugus would hit development of Madras. But the city continued to develop rapidly and even now 40 percent of its people are Telugus,” Murali Mohan explained.
There would be some initial problems after division, but Hyderabad would continue to develop.
Andhra state too would get a new capital and it would also develop, he said.
The TRS said that even after separation it would roll out a red carpet for investors and businessmen from Andhra, he pointed out.
The continuing uncertainty over the statehood issue was affecting the development of Hyderabad as businesses were incurring losses and investors were keeping away from the city, he said.
Murali Mohan, however, clarified that these were his personal views and not those of the MAA or TDP. Murali Mohan unsuccessfully contested on the TDP ticket from Rajahmundry in 2009 elections.
Comments
Murali Mohan wants to buy peace with TRS lest it should go after him for Jayabheri lands . Let Murali Mohan develop Andhra region and concentrate their if he is really interested in bifurcation.
By raj kumar
8/1/2010 8:34:00 AM
Now it’s two-sons theory for Babu
Express News Service
First Published : 31 Jul 2010 06:17:24 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Jul 2010 08:53:54 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Henceforth Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu’s two-eyed theory on bifurcation of the state, would get a makeover but the core philosophy will remain the same. Now it will be two-sons theory.
Determined to continue to champion the cause of separate Telangana and at the same time support the united AP demand, Chandrababu Naidu reiterated that it would continue to be the policy of the party in future too. “If a father has to choose between his two sons who are fighting with each other, whom would he support. He has to support both,” he said, speaking to reporters this evening.
He, however, said he would analyse the reasons for the defeat of the party in the byelections and decide on issues like Babli that have no bearing on Telangana sentiment to focus on till 2014 elections.
“We will review the election results and continue to fight for people’s issues,’’ Naidu told reporters today.
There was a strong feeling that TDP would not change its stand on T with the announcement of some leaders that the party had not fought the elections on Telangana sentiment. The only issue in the election was that people were sympathetic to all the 12 MLAs who resigned. It was sympathy and not sentiment that worked in the byelections, the TDP think-tank opines.
According to analysts, poor performance of the party would affect the party badly in Andhra region too in future. Naidu’s Andhra eye too would get affected. ``If the party was routed in one region, the people of other region too would not think highly of the party,’’ feared a leader.
However, Naidu would focus on issues and launch series of agitations in Telangana region before 2014 elections. He is likely to do his home work to change political equations in favour of TDP rather than taking a clear stand on Telangana.
First Published : 31 Jul 2010 06:17:24 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Jul 2010 08:53:54 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Henceforth Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu’s two-eyed theory on bifurcation of the state, would get a makeover but the core philosophy will remain the same. Now it will be two-sons theory.
Determined to continue to champion the cause of separate Telangana and at the same time support the united AP demand, Chandrababu Naidu reiterated that it would continue to be the policy of the party in future too. “If a father has to choose between his two sons who are fighting with each other, whom would he support. He has to support both,” he said, speaking to reporters this evening.
He, however, said he would analyse the reasons for the defeat of the party in the byelections and decide on issues like Babli that have no bearing on Telangana sentiment to focus on till 2014 elections.
“We will review the election results and continue to fight for people’s issues,’’ Naidu told reporters today.
There was a strong feeling that TDP would not change its stand on T with the announcement of some leaders that the party had not fought the elections on Telangana sentiment. The only issue in the election was that people were sympathetic to all the 12 MLAs who resigned. It was sympathy and not sentiment that worked in the byelections, the TDP think-tank opines.
According to analysts, poor performance of the party would affect the party badly in Andhra region too in future. Naidu’s Andhra eye too would get affected. ``If the party was routed in one region, the people of other region too would not think highly of the party,’’ feared a leader.
However, Naidu would focus on issues and launch series of agitations in Telangana region before 2014 elections. He is likely to do his home work to change political equations in favour of TDP rather than taking a clear stand on Telangana.
Naidu says bypoll grapes are sour
Express News Service
First Published : 29 Jul 2010 03:33:46 AM IST
Last Updated : 29 Jul 2010 10:53:12 AM IST
HYDERABAD: A day after polling in the by-elections, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu said that he did not take the elections seriously.
“We were busy with Babli agitation and none of the party seniors had time for campaigning,” he said.
“I have no regrets for not campaigning in the election,” Naidu told reporters here today.
The by-elections were held in a different context, Naidu said pointing to the resignations of 12 MLAs and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s contradictory statements.
“As a political party, we have to contest the election and so we did. I am not predicting how many seats we will win,” Naidu said.
“I have seen several elections and they keep coming. This election will not change the equation of power in the state,” he opined.
As all the seniors, including him, were busy studying the material on Babli and meeting national leaders in Delhi, local leaders campaigned for the party candidates. They did their best, he added. Asked about the party’s prospects in the election, Naidu said the TDP stood third at several places in the previous elections and did well in some segments. He, however, did not explain the party’s position in the present by-election.
Asked why the party failed to utilise the elections to tell the voters that the TDP was pro-Telangana and submitted a memorandum to the Pranab Mukherjee committee, Naidu said since the party accorded priority to Babli, they focused on it. “Babli is an issue that will badly affect the future generations,” he said.
He denied allegations that the TDP had taken up Babli for elections. “We do not consider Babli as an issue that will create a vote bank for us,” he clarified.
Naidu said the party would intensify its Babli agitation if the Prime Minister did not respond to the 15-day deadline fixed by the TDP.
Former prime ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Indira Gandhi amicably sorted out inter-state river water disputes by holding meets with the chief ministers of respective states, Naidu recalled and added that Manmohan Singh lacked such initiative.
Asked whether he would go on a hunger strike on Babli after the deadline, Naidu said they were exploring various options.
Comments
This is expected answer from Babu. it is predefined. but the result will haunt babu till next election.
By sridhar
7/29/2010 9:08:00 PM
First Published : 29 Jul 2010 03:33:46 AM IST
Last Updated : 29 Jul 2010 10:53:12 AM IST
HYDERABAD: A day after polling in the by-elections, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu said that he did not take the elections seriously.
“We were busy with Babli agitation and none of the party seniors had time for campaigning,” he said.
“I have no regrets for not campaigning in the election,” Naidu told reporters here today.
The by-elections were held in a different context, Naidu said pointing to the resignations of 12 MLAs and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s contradictory statements.
“As a political party, we have to contest the election and so we did. I am not predicting how many seats we will win,” Naidu said.
“I have seen several elections and they keep coming. This election will not change the equation of power in the state,” he opined.
As all the seniors, including him, were busy studying the material on Babli and meeting national leaders in Delhi, local leaders campaigned for the party candidates. They did their best, he added. Asked about the party’s prospects in the election, Naidu said the TDP stood third at several places in the previous elections and did well in some segments. He, however, did not explain the party’s position in the present by-election.
Asked why the party failed to utilise the elections to tell the voters that the TDP was pro-Telangana and submitted a memorandum to the Pranab Mukherjee committee, Naidu said since the party accorded priority to Babli, they focused on it. “Babli is an issue that will badly affect the future generations,” he said.
He denied allegations that the TDP had taken up Babli for elections. “We do not consider Babli as an issue that will create a vote bank for us,” he clarified.
Naidu said the party would intensify its Babli agitation if the Prime Minister did not respond to the 15-day deadline fixed by the TDP.
Former prime ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Indira Gandhi amicably sorted out inter-state river water disputes by holding meets with the chief ministers of respective states, Naidu recalled and added that Manmohan Singh lacked such initiative.
Asked whether he would go on a hunger strike on Babli after the deadline, Naidu said they were exploring various options.
Comments
This is expected answer from Babu. it is predefined. but the result will haunt babu till next election.
By sridhar
7/29/2010 9:08:00 PM
TDP faces threat of erosion of cadre in T
TDP faces threat of erosion of cadre in T
V V Balakrishna
Express News Service
First Published : 27 Jul 2010 03:08:18 AM IST
Last Updated : 27 Jul 2010 12:26:09 PM IST
HYDERABAD: Despite the oft-repeated claim by TDP chief Chandrbabu Naidu that the TDP has a strong cadre base in Telangana, the very foundation of the party is shaking in the byelections there.
With Telangana statehood being the overriding issue in the byelections, and the TDP having no clarity on it, Naidu's much-vaunted cadre base is slowly but steadily eroding in the region.
It may not come as surprise if TDP candidates forfeit their deposits in several constituencies when the ballot boxes are opened on July 30. TDP founder N T Ramarao laid a strong foundation for the party in Telangana by encouraging the backward classes. The foundation was further strengthened during the nineyear stint of Chandrababu Naidu. But with the separatist sentiment sweeping the entire region now, that foundation has shifted loyalties and TDP candidates are in danger of tasting humiliating defeats.
Chandrababu Naidu sets much store by the fact that he has been in politics for 30 years and that he knows the game. No doubt, Naidu is seasoned and wellknown for electoral calculations but for the first time in his political career, his calculations face the prospect of going wrong.
The TDP had no strong issue to go to the people with in this elections season, therefore chose the Babli issue to win the hearts of the people. The ploy may have boomeranged and the TDP may be left just clutching at straws. As Sircilla student M Rajasekhar said, "Babli is not an election issue at all.''
"Naidu should have waited till the apex court pronounced its verdict on Babli or till the Prime Minister convened an allparty meeting,'' said Ramulu, a pan vendor in Huzurabad. Though voters still admire Naidu for his administrative skills and the development witnessed during his stint, they have not been able to digest his 'twoeyed' theory on Telangana and Coastal Andhra. To them, Naidu is a past hero and present villain as far as the Telangana question is concerned. "Naidu is a good leader, but we want Telangana,'' several women voters said. Even committed TDP voters are likely to vote for the TRS this time to send a strong message to the UPA at the Centre that their hearts beat for T.
The polling percentage may come down in these byelections with hardcore Congress and TDP voters staying away from the polling booths as they know that the TRS will win anyway. On the other hand, those strongly motivated to make a point on the T question will certainly vote. As a result, the Big Two parties are likely to face defeats by huge margins.
V V Balakrishna
Express News Service
First Published : 27 Jul 2010 03:08:18 AM IST
Last Updated : 27 Jul 2010 12:26:09 PM IST
HYDERABAD: Despite the oft-repeated claim by TDP chief Chandrbabu Naidu that the TDP has a strong cadre base in Telangana, the very foundation of the party is shaking in the byelections there.
With Telangana statehood being the overriding issue in the byelections, and the TDP having no clarity on it, Naidu's much-vaunted cadre base is slowly but steadily eroding in the region.
It may not come as surprise if TDP candidates forfeit their deposits in several constituencies when the ballot boxes are opened on July 30. TDP founder N T Ramarao laid a strong foundation for the party in Telangana by encouraging the backward classes. The foundation was further strengthened during the nineyear stint of Chandrababu Naidu. But with the separatist sentiment sweeping the entire region now, that foundation has shifted loyalties and TDP candidates are in danger of tasting humiliating defeats.
Chandrababu Naidu sets much store by the fact that he has been in politics for 30 years and that he knows the game. No doubt, Naidu is seasoned and wellknown for electoral calculations but for the first time in his political career, his calculations face the prospect of going wrong.
The TDP had no strong issue to go to the people with in this elections season, therefore chose the Babli issue to win the hearts of the people. The ploy may have boomeranged and the TDP may be left just clutching at straws. As Sircilla student M Rajasekhar said, "Babli is not an election issue at all.''
"Naidu should have waited till the apex court pronounced its verdict on Babli or till the Prime Minister convened an allparty meeting,'' said Ramulu, a pan vendor in Huzurabad. Though voters still admire Naidu for his administrative skills and the development witnessed during his stint, they have not been able to digest his 'twoeyed' theory on Telangana and Coastal Andhra. To them, Naidu is a past hero and present villain as far as the Telangana question is concerned. "Naidu is a good leader, but we want Telangana,'' several women voters said. Even committed TDP voters are likely to vote for the TRS this time to send a strong message to the UPA at the Centre that their hearts beat for T.
The polling percentage may come down in these byelections with hardcore Congress and TDP voters staying away from the polling booths as they know that the TRS will win anyway. On the other hand, those strongly motivated to make a point on the T question will certainly vote. As a result, the Big Two parties are likely to face defeats by huge margins.
It’s Telangana all the way
Express News Service
First Published : 28 Jul 2010 04:05:19 AM IST
Last Updated : 28 Jul 2010 09:32:25 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Even as polling for an ‘unusual’ by-election ended today evening, the mood of the voter became quite clear - it was Telangana sentiment all the way.
Notwithstanding the efforts by the TDP and the Congress to divert the attention of the voter, he appears to have stood like Arjuna in the Mahabharata, who saw the bird’s eye and nothing else. The voter seemed to have considered the mini-election as an electoral battle for Telangana and appeared undisturbed by the efforts of the two big parties to shift his focus.
The TDP has brought the Babli issue to the fore. But voters hardly felt it was linked to this election. The Congress distributed money and liquor in Nizamabad Urban and that didn’t seem to have any effect too. Distribution of money in elections is uncommon in this backward Telangana region.
With general factors like caste, religion, money and liquor becoming irrelevant in this election, the results will be on expected lines.
PCC chief D Srinivas has confined himself to Nizamabad for his own survival leaving the other party candidates in the lurch. However, today he claimed that the Congress will bag all the 12 seats.
TDP seniors were nowhere in the election scene, at least on the polling day. The party chief did not appeal to voters to vote for his candidates, not even through the media. On the polling day, the TDP candidates were clearly lagging in several segments.
Analysing the polling, a TDP candidate in Karimnagar district said the Congress has purchased voters and it won’t be easy for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). He didn’t mention about the the trends for the TDP, leave alone his winning chances.
TRS leader N Narasimha Reddy said despite gimmicks by other parties, the TRS would win all the seats. The PRP vote bank too has shifted to the TRS, he said.
The Congress hoped to gain from the TDP’s loss, even by ‘unfair’ means, but its hopes seem to have been dashed as the mood in the Congress camp has turned sullen by evening as realisation seem to have dawned that the voter is on firm ground as far as ‘T’ is concerned.
Comments
Mr.Ajay - It is senseless to think Telangana without Hyderabad. Don't dream of breaking the thing which genuinely belongs to us for centuries. You have come here since 20-30 years and prospered and now steal away Hyderabad from us which is part of us since centuries.
By GENUINE TELANGANA AAM ADMI
7/31/2010 4:54:00 AM
Shouted Dogs went pale when Ballot spoke.JTG.
By madhukarmoogala
7/30/2010 11:58:00 AM
Yes you are right mr krishna that Telengana should be carved out but without hyderabad and ask your so called god father TRS chief Chandra Sekhar rao to change the Telengana like California. How does that sounds ? -Ajay
By Ajay
7/29/2010 1:13:00 AM
we the people of Great Telangana has suffer a lot for many years And now we all ( GREAT TELANGANA) people are very happy because each and every people know that telangana is only for GREAT TELANGANA .This is my pesonal requesting you all my friends ,relatives,family members,and others are from telangana relions Please,,,, please,..... please,.... supports GREAT TELANGANA .we are all fighting for our motherhood state. JAI TELANGANA ,, JAI JAI TELANGANA ,..
By MANOJ RATHOD
7/28/2010 8:08:00 PM
When small states like Chhathhies Ghad, Jharkhaand , Uttaranchal are carved ,why not a fairly big region like Telangana Only thing to see is that the region is properly nursed and ruled thereafter. Perhaps first carve the state and let it come under President rule initially with a core comprising intellectual and statesman to guide Governor (President) so as to see the future administration of the New state is in the right path and with out any breakage of violence in the state as appreciable percentage of people living in the area especially in Hyderabad and Secunderbad are in no way affected.
By J.RamaKrishna
7/28/2010 1:23:00 PM
First Published : 28 Jul 2010 04:05:19 AM IST
Last Updated : 28 Jul 2010 09:32:25 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Even as polling for an ‘unusual’ by-election ended today evening, the mood of the voter became quite clear - it was Telangana sentiment all the way.
Notwithstanding the efforts by the TDP and the Congress to divert the attention of the voter, he appears to have stood like Arjuna in the Mahabharata, who saw the bird’s eye and nothing else. The voter seemed to have considered the mini-election as an electoral battle for Telangana and appeared undisturbed by the efforts of the two big parties to shift his focus.
The TDP has brought the Babli issue to the fore. But voters hardly felt it was linked to this election. The Congress distributed money and liquor in Nizamabad Urban and that didn’t seem to have any effect too. Distribution of money in elections is uncommon in this backward Telangana region.
With general factors like caste, religion, money and liquor becoming irrelevant in this election, the results will be on expected lines.
PCC chief D Srinivas has confined himself to Nizamabad for his own survival leaving the other party candidates in the lurch. However, today he claimed that the Congress will bag all the 12 seats.
TDP seniors were nowhere in the election scene, at least on the polling day. The party chief did not appeal to voters to vote for his candidates, not even through the media. On the polling day, the TDP candidates were clearly lagging in several segments.
Analysing the polling, a TDP candidate in Karimnagar district said the Congress has purchased voters and it won’t be easy for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). He didn’t mention about the the trends for the TDP, leave alone his winning chances.
TRS leader N Narasimha Reddy said despite gimmicks by other parties, the TRS would win all the seats. The PRP vote bank too has shifted to the TRS, he said.
The Congress hoped to gain from the TDP’s loss, even by ‘unfair’ means, but its hopes seem to have been dashed as the mood in the Congress camp has turned sullen by evening as realisation seem to have dawned that the voter is on firm ground as far as ‘T’ is concerned.
Comments
Mr.Ajay - It is senseless to think Telangana without Hyderabad. Don't dream of breaking the thing which genuinely belongs to us for centuries. You have come here since 20-30 years and prospered and now steal away Hyderabad from us which is part of us since centuries.
By GENUINE TELANGANA AAM ADMI
7/31/2010 4:54:00 AM
Shouted Dogs went pale when Ballot spoke.JTG.
By madhukarmoogala
7/30/2010 11:58:00 AM
Yes you are right mr krishna that Telengana should be carved out but without hyderabad and ask your so called god father TRS chief Chandra Sekhar rao to change the Telengana like California. How does that sounds ? -Ajay
By Ajay
7/29/2010 1:13:00 AM
we the people of Great Telangana has suffer a lot for many years And now we all ( GREAT TELANGANA) people are very happy because each and every people know that telangana is only for GREAT TELANGANA .This is my pesonal requesting you all my friends ,relatives,family members,and others are from telangana relions Please,,,, please,..... please,.... supports GREAT TELANGANA .we are all fighting for our motherhood state. JAI TELANGANA ,, JAI JAI TELANGANA ,..
By MANOJ RATHOD
7/28/2010 8:08:00 PM
When small states like Chhathhies Ghad, Jharkhaand , Uttaranchal are carved ,why not a fairly big region like Telangana Only thing to see is that the region is properly nursed and ruled thereafter. Perhaps first carve the state and let it come under President rule initially with a core comprising intellectual and statesman to guide Governor (President) so as to see the future administration of the New state is in the right path and with out any breakage of violence in the state as appreciable percentage of people living in the area especially in Hyderabad and Secunderbad are in no way affected.
By J.RamaKrishna
7/28/2010 1:23:00 PM
Telugu Desam going all out to please TRS chief
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 05 May 2009 02:47:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 05 May 2009 11:38:03 AM IST
HYDERABAD: With suspicion lurking at the back of their minds that they might not get the simple majority to form government on their own, TDP leaders are trying to keep the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in good humour to ensure that it does not veer towards other parties.
TDP leaders feel that in case they fail to get the majority, support of the TRS will become crucial to form government.
In spite of their claims that the TRS will continue in the Grand Alliance, the TD leaders are closely monitoring the `political-steps’ of Rao.
In the event of a hung situation, the TDP would badly require the support of alliance partners - TRS, CPM and CPI. The TDP even wants to include the allies in the next government, raising curtain on the first coalition government in the State.
As part of its appeasement policy, the TDP is agreeing to all conditions put forth by the TRS, including a noobjection to adopting a resolution favouring Telangana statehood in the first session of the 13th Assembly.
Today, party leader R Chandrasekhara Reddy assured that the TDP would take disciplinary action against the party rebels who contested against TRS candidates in the Assembly elections.
During campaigning, the TRS chief, unlike in the past, talked less about separate Telangana and more about TDP’s Cash Transfer and colour TV schemes. But after the elections, he started openly doubting the mass appeal of the scheme while opening up his options for a post-poll tie-up.
“Separate Telangana is on the top of our agenda. We will support whichever party assures T,’’ a TRS leader said. It means the TRS may not continue in the Third Front and is even prepared to support either Congress or BJP at the Centre. It seems the TDP even acquiesced to the latest stand of the TRS. ``We have no objection if the TRS supports the NDA at the Centre. In the State, it will remain in the Grand Alliance,’’ a TDP politburo member said. “Extending support to NDA is the individual opinion of the TRS chief. The TRS will remain in the Grand Alliance,’’ TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said recently.
Despite the accommodative spirit being shown by the TDP, the TRS is likely to demand deputy speaker or deputy chief minister’s post to join the TDP-led coalition government
First Published : 05 May 2009 02:47:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 05 May 2009 11:38:03 AM IST
HYDERABAD: With suspicion lurking at the back of their minds that they might not get the simple majority to form government on their own, TDP leaders are trying to keep the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in good humour to ensure that it does not veer towards other parties.
TDP leaders feel that in case they fail to get the majority, support of the TRS will become crucial to form government.
In spite of their claims that the TRS will continue in the Grand Alliance, the TD leaders are closely monitoring the `political-steps’ of Rao.
In the event of a hung situation, the TDP would badly require the support of alliance partners - TRS, CPM and CPI. The TDP even wants to include the allies in the next government, raising curtain on the first coalition government in the State.
As part of its appeasement policy, the TDP is agreeing to all conditions put forth by the TRS, including a noobjection to adopting a resolution favouring Telangana statehood in the first session of the 13th Assembly.
Today, party leader R Chandrasekhara Reddy assured that the TDP would take disciplinary action against the party rebels who contested against TRS candidates in the Assembly elections.
During campaigning, the TRS chief, unlike in the past, talked less about separate Telangana and more about TDP’s Cash Transfer and colour TV schemes. But after the elections, he started openly doubting the mass appeal of the scheme while opening up his options for a post-poll tie-up.
“Separate Telangana is on the top of our agenda. We will support whichever party assures T,’’ a TRS leader said. It means the TRS may not continue in the Third Front and is even prepared to support either Congress or BJP at the Centre. It seems the TDP even acquiesced to the latest stand of the TRS. ``We have no objection if the TRS supports the NDA at the Centre. In the State, it will remain in the Grand Alliance,’’ a TDP politburo member said. “Extending support to NDA is the individual opinion of the TRS chief. The TRS will remain in the Grand Alliance,’’ TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said recently.
Despite the accommodative spirit being shown by the TDP, the TRS is likely to demand deputy speaker or deputy chief minister’s post to join the TDP-led coalition government
Professors leading movements a welcome change
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 05 Jan 2010 03:31:00 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: Professors have not limited themselves to spurring on students but have taken an active part in the ongoing struggle for separate Telangana State, turning it into a people’s movement by pushing politicos into corner.
Moreover, politicians didn’t object to Prof. M Kodandaram heading the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of political parties for separate Telangna, perhaps, realising that people had lost faith in them.
May be, they have stepped back respecting people’s sentiments and conceded leadership to a professor.
``I do not believe in politicians that they will achieve separate Telangana,’’ opined a student, who participated in the Vidyarthi Garjana yesterday in the city. Humble and soft spoken in nature, Kodandaram has successfully been coordinating the politicians of various parties with different ideologies. It seems, they have no qualms to work under the leadership of an educationist.
G Haragopal, a retired professor who taught political science at the University of Hyderabad and Kakatiya University, remarked that a professor leading a JAC of politicians was a welcome change.
``It is another social process,’’ he said endorsing the leadership of his colleague. For that matter, Haragopal himself took a proactive role in the ongoing Telangana movement by supporting students, who vowed to continue the agitation till Telangana was carved out. It may be mentioned that Jayashankar, a retired professor of Kakatiya University has been in the forefront of Telangana movement. He has been the ideologue of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), whose main agenda is to achieve separate State.
Terming `professors leading the movement’ a welcome sign, the Telangana NGOs president K Swamy Goud attributed the development to their credibility. May be taking cue from Telangana movement, United Andhra JAC of politicians which has been opposing bifurcation of the State decided to work under the leadership of professor Samuel from Nagarjuna University. It appears, people are gradually losing faith in politicos and parties and the void is being filled by professors.
vvbalakrishna@expressbuz.com
Comments
I personally discourage this both in Telangana as well as in Andhra. They should instead be guiding the Students on the values of Education, Moral Values etc. It is an open fact that the whole issue is to gain a political advantage be it in Telangana or Andhra. If people feel separate State is the only solution to all the problems, they should also think of the new problems that will spring up on forming of a separate State.
By Murali Vellampalli
1/6/2010 3:57:00 PM
First Published : 05 Jan 2010 03:31:00 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: Professors have not limited themselves to spurring on students but have taken an active part in the ongoing struggle for separate Telangana State, turning it into a people’s movement by pushing politicos into corner.
Moreover, politicians didn’t object to Prof. M Kodandaram heading the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of political parties for separate Telangna, perhaps, realising that people had lost faith in them.
May be, they have stepped back respecting people’s sentiments and conceded leadership to a professor.
``I do not believe in politicians that they will achieve separate Telangana,’’ opined a student, who participated in the Vidyarthi Garjana yesterday in the city. Humble and soft spoken in nature, Kodandaram has successfully been coordinating the politicians of various parties with different ideologies. It seems, they have no qualms to work under the leadership of an educationist.
G Haragopal, a retired professor who taught political science at the University of Hyderabad and Kakatiya University, remarked that a professor leading a JAC of politicians was a welcome change.
``It is another social process,’’ he said endorsing the leadership of his colleague. For that matter, Haragopal himself took a proactive role in the ongoing Telangana movement by supporting students, who vowed to continue the agitation till Telangana was carved out. It may be mentioned that Jayashankar, a retired professor of Kakatiya University has been in the forefront of Telangana movement. He has been the ideologue of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), whose main agenda is to achieve separate State.
Terming `professors leading the movement’ a welcome sign, the Telangana NGOs president K Swamy Goud attributed the development to their credibility. May be taking cue from Telangana movement, United Andhra JAC of politicians which has been opposing bifurcation of the State decided to work under the leadership of professor Samuel from Nagarjuna University. It appears, people are gradually losing faith in politicos and parties and the void is being filled by professors.
vvbalakrishna@expressbuz.com
Comments
I personally discourage this both in Telangana as well as in Andhra. They should instead be guiding the Students on the values of Education, Moral Values etc. It is an open fact that the whole issue is to gain a political advantage be it in Telangana or Andhra. If people feel separate State is the only solution to all the problems, they should also think of the new problems that will spring up on forming of a separate State.
By Murali Vellampalli
1/6/2010 3:57:00 PM
KU students vow to continue T-stir
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 08 Feb 2010 09:57:26 AM IST
Last Updated : 08 Feb 2010 12:55:06 PM IST
WARANGAL: The spirit was the same. Whether it was the Osmania University the other day or the Kakatiya on Sunday, students, who turned up in huge numbers, appeared determined to secure statehood for Telangana.
Like the meeting organised by the Osmania JAC students, KU students’ polikeka (war cry) too sent a message to Delhi that they mean business and that Telangana is non-negotiable. But, unlike in Osmania, there were a few jarring moments towards the end of the meeting when Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) chief Manda Krishna Madiga made some caustic remarks along caste lines, which infuriated the students. This led to angry exchange of words between the students and MRPS activists.
In the din, the students could not adopt a resolution opposing the Srikrishna Committee, demanding introduction of bill in Parliament by March 1 and resignations of all politicians. But the resolution was deemed to have been passed, according to student leaders.
Both the sides almost came to blows, with some students throwing water sachets and slippers at Manda Krishna Madiga. Police used mild force to restore order and soon after, the meeting ended abruptly. Later, Krishna Madiga alleged that TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao was behind the ruckus. ‘‘Weaker sections are for Telangana.
Only doralu are diluting the movement,’’ he claimed.
The public meeting, by and large, demonstrated that the students were very keen on continuing the Telangana movement and unitedly at that. The students raised slogans like Kulalu vaddu - mataalu vaddu - Telangana muddu and all for Telangana.
Several students walked up to six km to reach the campus, on the way overcoming police obstacles.
At the meeting, a student leader Ravi held out a warning to Andhras: ‘‘We will not allow Andhra people to reach Telangana after March 2 if the Centre did not introduce a bill in Parliament by then.’’ TRS ideologue Jaya Shankar said even though Srikrishna Committe might get down to work, Telangana movement would continue continue till a separate Telangana State was achieved.
Comments
The police should take up a sou motu SC/ST atrocities case on the instigators who threw slippers and water sachets at Manda Krishna Madiga.It is not only an insult on him but to SCs .
By rai kumar
2/9/2010 9:26:00 AM
Post your comments
First Published : 08 Feb 2010 09:57:26 AM IST
Last Updated : 08 Feb 2010 12:55:06 PM IST
WARANGAL: The spirit was the same. Whether it was the Osmania University the other day or the Kakatiya on Sunday, students, who turned up in huge numbers, appeared determined to secure statehood for Telangana.
Like the meeting organised by the Osmania JAC students, KU students’ polikeka (war cry) too sent a message to Delhi that they mean business and that Telangana is non-negotiable. But, unlike in Osmania, there were a few jarring moments towards the end of the meeting when Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) chief Manda Krishna Madiga made some caustic remarks along caste lines, which infuriated the students. This led to angry exchange of words between the students and MRPS activists.
In the din, the students could not adopt a resolution opposing the Srikrishna Committee, demanding introduction of bill in Parliament by March 1 and resignations of all politicians. But the resolution was deemed to have been passed, according to student leaders.
Both the sides almost came to blows, with some students throwing water sachets and slippers at Manda Krishna Madiga. Police used mild force to restore order and soon after, the meeting ended abruptly. Later, Krishna Madiga alleged that TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao was behind the ruckus. ‘‘Weaker sections are for Telangana.
Only doralu are diluting the movement,’’ he claimed.
The public meeting, by and large, demonstrated that the students were very keen on continuing the Telangana movement and unitedly at that. The students raised slogans like Kulalu vaddu - mataalu vaddu - Telangana muddu and all for Telangana.
Several students walked up to six km to reach the campus, on the way overcoming police obstacles.
At the meeting, a student leader Ravi held out a warning to Andhras: ‘‘We will not allow Andhra people to reach Telangana after March 2 if the Centre did not introduce a bill in Parliament by then.’’ TRS ideologue Jaya Shankar said even though Srikrishna Committe might get down to work, Telangana movement would continue continue till a separate Telangana State was achieved.
Comments
The police should take up a sou motu SC/ST atrocities case on the instigators who threw slippers and water sachets at Manda Krishna Madiga.It is not only an insult on him but to SCs .
By rai kumar
2/9/2010 9:26:00 AM
Post your comments
Lack of credibility keeps TTDPF inactive
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 25 Mar 2010 06:24:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 25 Mar 2010 09:17:09 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Though Telugu Desam’s Telangana leaders formed a separate forum within the party to wage a fight for Telangana State, the forum has remained non-functional so far.
The Telangana Telugu Desam Party Forum (TTDPF), which was officially launched on March 5, has not taken up any concrete action plan to continue its `fight’ for T-State.
Several party MLAs from the region, including TTDPF convener N Janardhan Reddy, maintained silence when asked why the forum was inactive. They neither refute the charges nor try to counter the argument.
When the forum was launched, Janardhan Reddy said that they would finalise the modalities for the struggle and declared: ``We feel T cannot be achieved without a fight. That is why we have started a forum to spearhead the movement.’’ Later, the party faced the wrath of the political Joint Action Committee and was expelled from it. Yet, the leaders have not met officially once, leave alone launching an agitation. ``When we are meeting regularly in the Assembly, what is the need for a separate a meeting?’’ argued an MLA.
However, some MLAs from the region admit that people would not believe them whatever they might do for T, even if the party was in a position to deliver statehood,’’ said another MLA. ``So, we have decided to confine to Hyderabad and avoid visiting our constituencies,’’ he admitted.
The MLA was known for such outspokennes.
Though, most of the MLAs have not spoken in such a candid manner, they too are of the same opinion. TDP MLAs fear unpleasant scenes when they visit their constituencies. Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu is no exception. When he participated in a college function at Meerpet here recently, students raised pro-Telangana slogans. That they were arrested by the police was another matter. A similar incident took place again when Naidu visited the Cherlapally Central Jail today. There had to be a lathicharge on Telangana agitators.
The TTDP Forum has only one work on hand, and that is to submit a report to the Srikrishna Committee highlighting the injustice done to the region in the last 60 years. Except this, the forum has no work on hand. Denying that the pary was inactive another MLA said the TDP raised the issues of Hyderabad free zone, students’ suicides and the lathicharge on advocates in Delhi in the Assembly during the Budget session. It remains to be seen whether the TTDPF will limit its programmes to expressing lip sympathy for the Telangana cause or plunge into action.
First Published : 25 Mar 2010 06:24:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 25 Mar 2010 09:17:09 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Though Telugu Desam’s Telangana leaders formed a separate forum within the party to wage a fight for Telangana State, the forum has remained non-functional so far.
The Telangana Telugu Desam Party Forum (TTDPF), which was officially launched on March 5, has not taken up any concrete action plan to continue its `fight’ for T-State.
Several party MLAs from the region, including TTDPF convener N Janardhan Reddy, maintained silence when asked why the forum was inactive. They neither refute the charges nor try to counter the argument.
When the forum was launched, Janardhan Reddy said that they would finalise the modalities for the struggle and declared: ``We feel T cannot be achieved without a fight. That is why we have started a forum to spearhead the movement.’’ Later, the party faced the wrath of the political Joint Action Committee and was expelled from it. Yet, the leaders have not met officially once, leave alone launching an agitation. ``When we are meeting regularly in the Assembly, what is the need for a separate a meeting?’’ argued an MLA.
However, some MLAs from the region admit that people would not believe them whatever they might do for T, even if the party was in a position to deliver statehood,’’ said another MLA. ``So, we have decided to confine to Hyderabad and avoid visiting our constituencies,’’ he admitted.
The MLA was known for such outspokennes.
Though, most of the MLAs have not spoken in such a candid manner, they too are of the same opinion. TDP MLAs fear unpleasant scenes when they visit their constituencies. Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu is no exception. When he participated in a college function at Meerpet here recently, students raised pro-Telangana slogans. That they were arrested by the police was another matter. A similar incident took place again when Naidu visited the Cherlapally Central Jail today. There had to be a lathicharge on Telangana agitators.
The TTDP Forum has only one work on hand, and that is to submit a report to the Srikrishna Committee highlighting the injustice done to the region in the last 60 years. Except this, the forum has no work on hand. Denying that the pary was inactive another MLA said the TDP raised the issues of Hyderabad free zone, students’ suicides and the lathicharge on advocates in Delhi in the Assembly during the Budget session. It remains to be seen whether the TTDPF will limit its programmes to expressing lip sympathy for the Telangana cause or plunge into action.
Reverse migration causes disquiet in TD
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 03 May 2010 04:11:00 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: Though a large number of leaders from other parties are joining the Telugu Desam, the fear among the party leaders is ``Will this reverse migration spoil the prospects of the party in the next elections?’’ The leadership has opened the party doors to former leaders. Several leaders including T Devender Goud, Tammineni Sitaram and those PRP and TRS leaders who unsuccessfully contested the recent elections, have joined the party in the last one year.
Reverse migration of old guards into the party might help the TDP in the Telangana region where it is facing some problems. But the reentry of Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao, Kottapalli Subbarayaudu and others is likely to stir up a hornets’ nest in the party. For example, the re-entry of Kala Venkata Rao is not very palatable to senior leader K Yerran Naidu. Naidu is equally unhappy at the return of Sitaram.
Asked about his comments, Yerran Naidu said that he would abide by the party’s decision. He, however, hastened to add that Kala Venkata Rao should explain the reasons why he had left the party and why he had decided to rejoin the parent party after the elections.
Though Yerran Naidu personally dislikes the entry of some leaders, he may not suffer any political loss as he is a Lok Sabha candidate.
Problems could arise in the respective Assembly constituencies where the party appointed incharges in order to gear up the party.
``Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu has already announced that the Assembly tickets in 2014 will be given to party incharges. TDP has incharges in all the Assembly constituencies in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. How can then the party chief accommodate the leaders who are re-entering the party now?’’ wondered a senior leader.
``At present, the TDP has no incharges for almost 70 Assembly constituencies in the Telangana region.
If any leader from these constituencies in Telangana rejoins the party, then the party will stand to gain. In contrast, the fate of Assembly segment incharges in Andhra region will hang in balance if more former leaders troop back into the party,’’ said another senior leader.
``I do not what Naidu promising the leaders who are keen to rejoin the party. If he replaces the segment incharges before elections, that will create problems. If he sticks to his word and give tickets to present incharges, then those reentering the party will damage the prospects of the party,’’ worried another leader.
There will, however, be no immediate problem to the party due to the migrations. ``We are in the opposition and those who will cross over into the TDP will share the party work as we cannot offer plum political posts as in a ruling party,’’ said Yerran Naidu.
First Published : 03 May 2010 04:11:00 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: Though a large number of leaders from other parties are joining the Telugu Desam, the fear among the party leaders is ``Will this reverse migration spoil the prospects of the party in the next elections?’’ The leadership has opened the party doors to former leaders. Several leaders including T Devender Goud, Tammineni Sitaram and those PRP and TRS leaders who unsuccessfully contested the recent elections, have joined the party in the last one year.
Reverse migration of old guards into the party might help the TDP in the Telangana region where it is facing some problems. But the reentry of Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao, Kottapalli Subbarayaudu and others is likely to stir up a hornets’ nest in the party. For example, the re-entry of Kala Venkata Rao is not very palatable to senior leader K Yerran Naidu. Naidu is equally unhappy at the return of Sitaram.
Asked about his comments, Yerran Naidu said that he would abide by the party’s decision. He, however, hastened to add that Kala Venkata Rao should explain the reasons why he had left the party and why he had decided to rejoin the parent party after the elections.
Though Yerran Naidu personally dislikes the entry of some leaders, he may not suffer any political loss as he is a Lok Sabha candidate.
Problems could arise in the respective Assembly constituencies where the party appointed incharges in order to gear up the party.
``Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu has already announced that the Assembly tickets in 2014 will be given to party incharges. TDP has incharges in all the Assembly constituencies in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. How can then the party chief accommodate the leaders who are re-entering the party now?’’ wondered a senior leader.
``At present, the TDP has no incharges for almost 70 Assembly constituencies in the Telangana region.
If any leader from these constituencies in Telangana rejoins the party, then the party will stand to gain. In contrast, the fate of Assembly segment incharges in Andhra region will hang in balance if more former leaders troop back into the party,’’ said another senior leader.
``I do not what Naidu promising the leaders who are keen to rejoin the party. If he replaces the segment incharges before elections, that will create problems. If he sticks to his word and give tickets to present incharges, then those reentering the party will damage the prospects of the party,’’ worried another leader.
There will, however, be no immediate problem to the party due to the migrations. ``We are in the opposition and those who will cross over into the TDP will share the party work as we cannot offer plum political posts as in a ruling party,’’ said Yerran Naidu.
A grassroots makeover?
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 08 May 2010 04:41:00 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: The death of bete noire YS Rajasekhara Reddy, has brought about a sea change in the routine of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrbabu Naidu who is into his second successive term as leader of the Opposition.
Freed from the compulsion to launch or parry diatribes, he is focusing on strengthening his party at grass-roots level. Naidu comes to NTR Bhavan daily in the morning and meets cadres, leaders and people in general to apprise himself of local problems which he directs respective district party seniors to follow up.
``The interactive programme (Ishta gosti) is a very good concept. This way the party chief keeps abreast of ground-level situations,’’ maintains TDP politburo member K Yerran Naidu.
Naidu also tries to strike a rapport with second-rung cadres by inquiring about their personal problems and financial status and giving advice when he can. And the NTR Memorial Trust provides some help to party workers with self-employment schemes. It recently conducted a counselling session for more than 1,000 cadres in this regard.
“If party workers start their own business, they can do moderately well. After a year, sincere workers can help out by contributing their mite to the party from income generated through honest means,’’ a functionary said.
The idea was mooted by Naidu whose family also runs the Heritage business involved in dairy products and pickles.
“It is rare to see second-rung leaders sitting face to face with a party chief.
Naidu has really brought about a big change,’’ says Karnataka State TDP president Venkatesappa.
The honcho is also keen to tour the districts and mingle with the people.
But given his ambiguity over the burning issue of Telangana it has to be seen how the visits are received.
Critics, however, have been quick to decry Naidu’s newfound enthusiasm for grass roots party-building as nothing but evasion of the central issue of State politics today.
First Published : 08 May 2010 04:41:00 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: The death of bete noire YS Rajasekhara Reddy, has brought about a sea change in the routine of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrbabu Naidu who is into his second successive term as leader of the Opposition.
Freed from the compulsion to launch or parry diatribes, he is focusing on strengthening his party at grass-roots level. Naidu comes to NTR Bhavan daily in the morning and meets cadres, leaders and people in general to apprise himself of local problems which he directs respective district party seniors to follow up.
``The interactive programme (Ishta gosti) is a very good concept. This way the party chief keeps abreast of ground-level situations,’’ maintains TDP politburo member K Yerran Naidu.
Naidu also tries to strike a rapport with second-rung cadres by inquiring about their personal problems and financial status and giving advice when he can. And the NTR Memorial Trust provides some help to party workers with self-employment schemes. It recently conducted a counselling session for more than 1,000 cadres in this regard.
“If party workers start their own business, they can do moderately well. After a year, sincere workers can help out by contributing their mite to the party from income generated through honest means,’’ a functionary said.
The idea was mooted by Naidu whose family also runs the Heritage business involved in dairy products and pickles.
“It is rare to see second-rung leaders sitting face to face with a party chief.
Naidu has really brought about a big change,’’ says Karnataka State TDP president Venkatesappa.
The honcho is also keen to tour the districts and mingle with the people.
But given his ambiguity over the burning issue of Telangana it has to be seen how the visits are received.
Critics, however, have been quick to decry Naidu’s newfound enthusiasm for grass roots party-building as nothing but evasion of the central issue of State politics today.
‘Jai Telangana’ vs ‘TRS, go back’
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 14 May 2010 04:26:45 AM IST
Last Updated : 14 May 2010 09:09:37 AM IST
NALGONDA: As expected, leader of the opposition N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telangana tour has been marred by protests.
Around 10 TRS workers waved party flags and banners at the Miryalaguda market yard in the district where Naidu addressed farmers. They also raised the slogan, `Jai Telangana’.
Police whisked them away from the dais.
According to sources, the Nalgonda police took several TRS leaders, particularly the T-JAC leaders in the district, into preventive custody to prevent any untoward incidents in view of Naidu’s tour. The preventive arrests helped Naidu complete his tour without any glitch.
An angry Naidu shouted back at the TRS protesters: ``Go back, TRS. It is not good to disturb the meeting which is intended to know the plight of paddy farmers.’’ TDP’s Telangana leaders too were fighting for the cause of Telangana, he told them.
Talking with reporters in Nalgonda later in the evening, Naidu charged the TRS with disturbing the meeting of another political party.
``What will you do if we disturb your meetings?’’ he questioned TRS leaders.
Staging demonstrations by one political party at the meetings of other political parties was unethical, the Telugu Desam chief said.
When a TV channel reporter told Naidu that they (TRS) were Telanganites and they raised slogans against Naidu, he said, pointing to senior TDP leaders at the press meet, that they too were Telanganites.
The TD chief, in his typical style, asked the TV reporter whether he came from Raj News, which is supported by the TRS.
The reporter reminded Naidu that he too owned Studio N. Replying to this Naidu said that owning a news channel was no wrong but they had to respect each other. ``We have respect for reporters of other channels.
But, if the situation demands, we will boycott some channels owned by political parties,’’ he said. ``Other channels are free to boycott the TDP too,’’ he hastened to add.
First Published : 14 May 2010 04:26:45 AM IST
Last Updated : 14 May 2010 09:09:37 AM IST
NALGONDA: As expected, leader of the opposition N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telangana tour has been marred by protests.
Around 10 TRS workers waved party flags and banners at the Miryalaguda market yard in the district where Naidu addressed farmers. They also raised the slogan, `Jai Telangana’.
Police whisked them away from the dais.
According to sources, the Nalgonda police took several TRS leaders, particularly the T-JAC leaders in the district, into preventive custody to prevent any untoward incidents in view of Naidu’s tour. The preventive arrests helped Naidu complete his tour without any glitch.
An angry Naidu shouted back at the TRS protesters: ``Go back, TRS. It is not good to disturb the meeting which is intended to know the plight of paddy farmers.’’ TDP’s Telangana leaders too were fighting for the cause of Telangana, he told them.
Talking with reporters in Nalgonda later in the evening, Naidu charged the TRS with disturbing the meeting of another political party.
``What will you do if we disturb your meetings?’’ he questioned TRS leaders.
Staging demonstrations by one political party at the meetings of other political parties was unethical, the Telugu Desam chief said.
When a TV channel reporter told Naidu that they (TRS) were Telanganites and they raised slogans against Naidu, he said, pointing to senior TDP leaders at the press meet, that they too were Telanganites.
The TD chief, in his typical style, asked the TV reporter whether he came from Raj News, which is supported by the TRS.
The reporter reminded Naidu that he too owned Studio N. Replying to this Naidu said that owning a news channel was no wrong but they had to respect each other. ``We have respect for reporters of other channels.
But, if the situation demands, we will boycott some channels owned by political parties,’’ he said. ``Other channels are free to boycott the TDP too,’’ he hastened to add.
TRS trying ploy to pin EC to paper
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 02 Jul 2010 07:25:57 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: Telangana protagonists are planning to contest in the byelections to 12 Assembly segments in the region in large numbers at the behest of Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhara Rao to thwart the attempts of the Election Commission (EC) to use EVMs.
The machines can handle 64 candidates at most, and a number in excess of this would entail recourse to ballot paper.
It may be recalled that TRS had lodged a complaint with the EC recently that the use of EVMs posed a threat to the winning chances of TRS candidates.
The result, it is feared, could be tampered with as one could vote through a mobile phone from outside the polling booth if s/he ``knew the programme of EVM’’.
It is too late for the party to take legal recourse over its apprehensions as the schedule has already been announced and the EC has made it clear it wants to use the machines.
The only way to stymie the EC in this respect is to put up over 64 candidates in the fray. This is because the EVMs accommodate only 64 entries.
On Wednesday, TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao discussed the strategy with close aides.
He said ballot papers gave the voter a chance to c r o s s c h e c k whether s/he had indicated his choice correctly.
Should the TRS and Telangana protagonists succeed, the EC will have the Herculean task of printing newspaper- size ballot papers. It may be recalled that such ballot papers had been used some time ago in Nalgonda when leaders of the Jala Sadhana Samithi leaders filed nominations en masse pressing their demand for potable water.
First Published : 02 Jul 2010 07:25:57 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: Telangana protagonists are planning to contest in the byelections to 12 Assembly segments in the region in large numbers at the behest of Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhara Rao to thwart the attempts of the Election Commission (EC) to use EVMs.
The machines can handle 64 candidates at most, and a number in excess of this would entail recourse to ballot paper.
It may be recalled that TRS had lodged a complaint with the EC recently that the use of EVMs posed a threat to the winning chances of TRS candidates.
The result, it is feared, could be tampered with as one could vote through a mobile phone from outside the polling booth if s/he ``knew the programme of EVM’’.
It is too late for the party to take legal recourse over its apprehensions as the schedule has already been announced and the EC has made it clear it wants to use the machines.
The only way to stymie the EC in this respect is to put up over 64 candidates in the fray. This is because the EVMs accommodate only 64 entries.
On Wednesday, TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao discussed the strategy with close aides.
He said ballot papers gave the voter a chance to c r o s s c h e c k whether s/he had indicated his choice correctly.
Should the TRS and Telangana protagonists succeed, the EC will have the Herculean task of printing newspaper- size ballot papers. It may be recalled that such ballot papers had been used some time ago in Nalgonda when leaders of the Jala Sadhana Samithi leaders filed nominations en masse pressing their demand for potable water.
Babu, partymen arrested on way to Babhali
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 17 Jul 2010 06:47:46 AM IST
Last Updated : 17 Jul 2010 03:13:43 PM IST
BASARA (adilabad Dt): The high voltage drama, which began on Friday afternoon at Dharmabad on the Maharashtra-AP border with the arrest of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and a host of his partymen, while they were on their way to the Babhali irrigation project, continued till late into the night with the yellow brigade refusing to return home without visiting the controversial site.
When reports last came in, Naidu was still in the custody of the Maharashtra police. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan spoke to him and made it clear that he wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near Babhali even if he stayed in the State for three-four days. Home Minister RR Patil too told the TDP chief that he wasn’t welcome. A war-like situation prevailed on the Andhra-Maharashtra border since morning itself, with a large number of policemen from both the states deployed to prevent people from crossing over. Despite Chief Minister K Rosaiah’s advice against visiting Babhali, Naidu was determined to expose the “illegal” nature of the Maharashtra projects and reached the border.
He and his colleagues were arrested by the Maharashtra police when they crossed the border, which is just six km from Basara and 12 km from Babhali. Naidu along with 74 other TDP leaders were taken to Dharmabad police station and from thence, to the ITI palace. Anticipating trouble, the Maharashtra police sealed the borders on Thursday night itself and clamped Section 144 in the area besides deploying a Quick Response Team
Thousands of farmers from Maharashtra too set out for the border upon hearing news of the TDP chief’s plans. However, the police stopped them at some distance. Both sides raised slogans like Babhali Bachao and Babhali Roko.
Nanded MP Bhaskar Rao Patil (Cong) and local MLA from Nayagar Vasanta Rao (Cong) reached the spot early in the day and monitored the developments with local police to prevent the TDP team. A large number of activists of Babhali Bandara Kruit Samithi, an organisation demanding immediate construction of Babhali also gathered there. Nanded Inspector General (IG) SP Yadav informed Naidu that they would not allow the TDP delegation to see the Babhali project. Naidu and other leaders told the IG that Andhra-Maharashtra border was not an Indo-Pak border or Indo-China border and they should not be prevented from visiting Babhali.
"Speak to your Chief Minister and let us visit Babhali,'' the TDP leaders told the Maharashtra police. With no clearance forthcoming, the TDP delegation squatted on the Andhra side of the border.
Naidu told the gatherng::"I want to see the latest situation at Babhali and report the matter to the Prime Minister.'' As Maharashtra denied permission even to a five-member delegation to visit Babhali, Naidu along with several MPs and MLAs removed the barricade and walked into the Maharashtra border.
Maharashtra police immediately arrested them and took them to Dharmabad police station.
First Published : 17 Jul 2010 06:47:46 AM IST
Last Updated : 17 Jul 2010 03:13:43 PM IST
BASARA (adilabad Dt): The high voltage drama, which began on Friday afternoon at Dharmabad on the Maharashtra-AP border with the arrest of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and a host of his partymen, while they were on their way to the Babhali irrigation project, continued till late into the night with the yellow brigade refusing to return home without visiting the controversial site.
When reports last came in, Naidu was still in the custody of the Maharashtra police. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan spoke to him and made it clear that he wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near Babhali even if he stayed in the State for three-four days. Home Minister RR Patil too told the TDP chief that he wasn’t welcome. A war-like situation prevailed on the Andhra-Maharashtra border since morning itself, with a large number of policemen from both the states deployed to prevent people from crossing over. Despite Chief Minister K Rosaiah’s advice against visiting Babhali, Naidu was determined to expose the “illegal” nature of the Maharashtra projects and reached the border.
He and his colleagues were arrested by the Maharashtra police when they crossed the border, which is just six km from Basara and 12 km from Babhali. Naidu along with 74 other TDP leaders were taken to Dharmabad police station and from thence, to the ITI palace. Anticipating trouble, the Maharashtra police sealed the borders on Thursday night itself and clamped Section 144 in the area besides deploying a Quick Response Team
Thousands of farmers from Maharashtra too set out for the border upon hearing news of the TDP chief’s plans. However, the police stopped them at some distance. Both sides raised slogans like Babhali Bachao and Babhali Roko.
Nanded MP Bhaskar Rao Patil (Cong) and local MLA from Nayagar Vasanta Rao (Cong) reached the spot early in the day and monitored the developments with local police to prevent the TDP team. A large number of activists of Babhali Bandara Kruit Samithi, an organisation demanding immediate construction of Babhali also gathered there. Nanded Inspector General (IG) SP Yadav informed Naidu that they would not allow the TDP delegation to see the Babhali project. Naidu and other leaders told the IG that Andhra-Maharashtra border was not an Indo-Pak border or Indo-China border and they should not be prevented from visiting Babhali.
"Speak to your Chief Minister and let us visit Babhali,'' the TDP leaders told the Maharashtra police. With no clearance forthcoming, the TDP delegation squatted on the Andhra side of the border.
Naidu told the gatherng::"I want to see the latest situation at Babhali and report the matter to the Prime Minister.'' As Maharashtra denied permission even to a five-member delegation to visit Babhali, Naidu along with several MPs and MLAs removed the barricade and walked into the Maharashtra border.
Maharashtra police immediately arrested them and took them to Dharmabad police station.
Dharmapuri: Tinge of pink in a town
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 23 Jul 2010 04:43:13 AM IST
Last Updated : 23 Jul 2010 11:34:04 AM IST
DHARMAPURI: TheGodavari is a disappointment here at Dharmapuri. Midway into the monsoon, the river flows at 2 ft around this town. One can easily cross the river on foot. People here say the river has not flown lower in 100 years.
This tiny town is famous for the temple of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. Pilgrims throng to it from far. At the height of the pilgrim season, the precinct teems with devotees at sunrise. Being the ashadha maasam, this is not the pilgrim season. There were hardly five devotees in the temple when the priest performed the day's first puja.
Elsewhere in town, there are few signs that a byelection is being fought here. The bus stand looked deserted, and the Godavari Road was bereft of any large banners, buntings or flags of any colour. Late into the morning, a lone car displaying a TRS pink flexi and blaring a Telangana ditty scuttled along. There was no one in the TDP and Congress election offices. Out in the countryside, the signs of an election were no more evident.
In Nerella village, a student, Srikanth succinctly explained Dharmapuri's indolence. "The Congress and the TDP are not spending any money because they know they'll lose. And the TRS is not spending any money because it knows it will win.'' Later in the day, the TDP candidate Nakka Narayana made his way into Nerella and began a speech. Villagers stopped milling about, gathered around and heard him politely. Villager Lakshmamma said as an aside, "You should have been here yesterday. There were so many more people for the Telangana party's meeting.''
Dharmapuri was once a stronghold of left-wing extremism. There are no naxalite action teams about but the ideology has left its mark on the people here. They dismiss queries about the TRS candidate, Koppula Eswar, saying it doesn't matter who it is as along as they get to make their point. Eswar is of course way ahead in garnering the martryrdom sweepstakes, having resigned his seat last year bowing to what is called the T Sentiment.
In comparison, the TDP candidate Nakka Narayana, a doctor, looks forlorn. No biggy from his party has joined him on the stump, being busy in the Babli drama elsewhere. TDP volunteers wistfully say the absence of Chandrababu Naidu has been a big set back, but locals offer a different take. Teacher Srinivas dismissed the proposition with a wave of his hand: "Babli was just an excuse for Naidu.''
Congress candidate A Lakshman Kumar, a last time loser to the TRS' Eswar, has not been better served than his TDP counterpart in terms of help from the big guns of his party. So, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has been the only star campaigner who has graced Dharmapuri in this election season, the first time he has deigned to do so. On the banks of the low Godavari, a villager expressed his hope for the new state. "In a separate Telangana, we will get our share of the water, and Godavari will flow high again.''
First Published : 23 Jul 2010 04:43:13 AM IST
Last Updated : 23 Jul 2010 11:34:04 AM IST
DHARMAPURI: TheGodavari is a disappointment here at Dharmapuri. Midway into the monsoon, the river flows at 2 ft around this town. One can easily cross the river on foot. People here say the river has not flown lower in 100 years.
This tiny town is famous for the temple of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. Pilgrims throng to it from far. At the height of the pilgrim season, the precinct teems with devotees at sunrise. Being the ashadha maasam, this is not the pilgrim season. There were hardly five devotees in the temple when the priest performed the day's first puja.
Elsewhere in town, there are few signs that a byelection is being fought here. The bus stand looked deserted, and the Godavari Road was bereft of any large banners, buntings or flags of any colour. Late into the morning, a lone car displaying a TRS pink flexi and blaring a Telangana ditty scuttled along. There was no one in the TDP and Congress election offices. Out in the countryside, the signs of an election were no more evident.
In Nerella village, a student, Srikanth succinctly explained Dharmapuri's indolence. "The Congress and the TDP are not spending any money because they know they'll lose. And the TRS is not spending any money because it knows it will win.'' Later in the day, the TDP candidate Nakka Narayana made his way into Nerella and began a speech. Villagers stopped milling about, gathered around and heard him politely. Villager Lakshmamma said as an aside, "You should have been here yesterday. There were so many more people for the Telangana party's meeting.''
Dharmapuri was once a stronghold of left-wing extremism. There are no naxalite action teams about but the ideology has left its mark on the people here. They dismiss queries about the TRS candidate, Koppula Eswar, saying it doesn't matter who it is as along as they get to make their point. Eswar is of course way ahead in garnering the martryrdom sweepstakes, having resigned his seat last year bowing to what is called the T Sentiment.
In comparison, the TDP candidate Nakka Narayana, a doctor, looks forlorn. No biggy from his party has joined him on the stump, being busy in the Babli drama elsewhere. TDP volunteers wistfully say the absence of Chandrababu Naidu has been a big set back, but locals offer a different take. Teacher Srinivas dismissed the proposition with a wave of his hand: "Babli was just an excuse for Naidu.''
Congress candidate A Lakshman Kumar, a last time loser to the TRS' Eswar, has not been better served than his TDP counterpart in terms of help from the big guns of his party. So, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has been the only star campaigner who has graced Dharmapuri in this election season, the first time he has deigned to do so. On the banks of the low Godavari, a villager expressed his hope for the new state. "In a separate Telangana, we will get our share of the water, and Godavari will flow high again.''
'They can have our sympathy. Not sentiment'
V V Balakrishna
First Published : 25 Jul 2010 03:49:21 AM IST
Last Updated : 25 Jul 2010 11:13:47 AM IST
SIRCILLA: In Sircilla, before answering any questions on the byelection, they ask you where you're from. If from Telangana, a smile breaks out and an instant connect is established. The smile says we're kindred. If from coastal Andhra, they take pains to assure you that people from the coast are nice and welcome to stay here, except that elected rep who made such a spectacle of himself on TV back in December last year.
Sircilla is a weaving town, notorious for the suicides of weavers until a few years ago. The suicides have abated but signs of the distress are still evident in the hand-to-mouth wages paid to workmen and in the alcoholism rampant among debt-ridden masters. Fine cloth yarn is woven here, but people throng to the pavement shops in the bazaar by the bus stand to purchase cheap polyester cloth brought in by traders from Maharashtra.
To appearances, Sircilla is a bustling town but jobless young men hang around at small businesses running errands. At the periphery of town, farmers bemoan the futility of tilling for there's no water for the crops. The buses are good but there could be more services to Bidar, Nanded and other addas for migrant workers from here.
In other words, there's plenty here for bypoll candidates to fight over. But this election is not about problems. It is about Telangana. No candidate is badgered about bijli, sadak and pani. They are all asked only one question: When will Telangana come?
Affecting distaste, Veeresam Goud, a daily wager, asks, "Why are these fellows campaigning at all?'' Chips in his fellow worker Anjanna, "We should not allow them to campaign. It is our mistake.'' The subjects of their impatience are the Congress and the TDP. The import of their impatience is that the Big Two parties are wasting their time. The post has been taken. Nonetheless, the three main candidates are working up a little dust here. All three of them are pulling long faces in order to get what is called the sympathy vote. Each of them has a different claim to it.
First, the favourite, K T Rama Rao is playing the Telangana martyr who renounced his hard-won Assembly seat in December when the constituents bid him do it.
In the last election in April 2009, K T Rama Rao was seen as something of a milksop compared to his mercurial Dad, combative cousin Harish Rao and winsome sister Kavitha.
He scraped through by 171 votes, which, for a prince of the TRS, was considered as good as a drubbing. But since his renunciatory act, he’s won himself a decent claim to the S vote.
Congress candidate K Mahender Reddy’s claim to the bechara vote arises from that very electoral skirmish. Last time, as an Independent - albeit supported by Congress strategists - he almost bested the TRS yuvraj.
So he can tug some heart strings too.
And then, the TDP candidate Putta Kishore says he deserves a little S because his party leaders went uninvited to the Maharashtra border and tested the mettle of police lathis in that state last week.
But this bypoll is not about Sympathy, it is about Sentiment. As A Lingam Goud, a student, puts it voters are not interested in any factor other than separate statehood for Telangana.
“The TDP and Congress candidates are both good men. They can have our sympathy but not our sentiment.’’
First Published : 25 Jul 2010 03:49:21 AM IST
Last Updated : 25 Jul 2010 11:13:47 AM IST
SIRCILLA: In Sircilla, before answering any questions on the byelection, they ask you where you're from. If from Telangana, a smile breaks out and an instant connect is established. The smile says we're kindred. If from coastal Andhra, they take pains to assure you that people from the coast are nice and welcome to stay here, except that elected rep who made such a spectacle of himself on TV back in December last year.
Sircilla is a weaving town, notorious for the suicides of weavers until a few years ago. The suicides have abated but signs of the distress are still evident in the hand-to-mouth wages paid to workmen and in the alcoholism rampant among debt-ridden masters. Fine cloth yarn is woven here, but people throng to the pavement shops in the bazaar by the bus stand to purchase cheap polyester cloth brought in by traders from Maharashtra.
To appearances, Sircilla is a bustling town but jobless young men hang around at small businesses running errands. At the periphery of town, farmers bemoan the futility of tilling for there's no water for the crops. The buses are good but there could be more services to Bidar, Nanded and other addas for migrant workers from here.
In other words, there's plenty here for bypoll candidates to fight over. But this election is not about problems. It is about Telangana. No candidate is badgered about bijli, sadak and pani. They are all asked only one question: When will Telangana come?
Affecting distaste, Veeresam Goud, a daily wager, asks, "Why are these fellows campaigning at all?'' Chips in his fellow worker Anjanna, "We should not allow them to campaign. It is our mistake.'' The subjects of their impatience are the Congress and the TDP. The import of their impatience is that the Big Two parties are wasting their time. The post has been taken. Nonetheless, the three main candidates are working up a little dust here. All three of them are pulling long faces in order to get what is called the sympathy vote. Each of them has a different claim to it.
First, the favourite, K T Rama Rao is playing the Telangana martyr who renounced his hard-won Assembly seat in December when the constituents bid him do it.
In the last election in April 2009, K T Rama Rao was seen as something of a milksop compared to his mercurial Dad, combative cousin Harish Rao and winsome sister Kavitha.
He scraped through by 171 votes, which, for a prince of the TRS, was considered as good as a drubbing. But since his renunciatory act, he’s won himself a decent claim to the S vote.
Congress candidate K Mahender Reddy’s claim to the bechara vote arises from that very electoral skirmish. Last time, as an Independent - albeit supported by Congress strategists - he almost bested the TRS yuvraj.
So he can tug some heart strings too.
And then, the TDP candidate Putta Kishore says he deserves a little S because his party leaders went uninvited to the Maharashtra border and tested the mettle of police lathis in that state last week.
But this bypoll is not about Sympathy, it is about Sentiment. As A Lingam Goud, a student, puts it voters are not interested in any factor other than separate statehood for Telangana.
“The TDP and Congress candidates are both good men. They can have our sympathy but not our sentiment.’’
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