VV Balakrishna
First Published : 25 Jun 2009 11:07:19 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: After the electoral debacle, the principal partners of the Grand Alliance (GA) are now poles apart. As all the hopes of the GA partners withered away in the recently-concluded General Elections, the parties are drifting away in search of new allies. The principal partner in the Grand
Alliance, Telugu Desam Party, appears to have become isolated.
After the Alliance failed in the elections, it was the Telangana Rashtra
Samithi (TRS) that was first to blame the TDP for the poll reverses. The TRS
alleged that transfer of votes between TDP and TRS were one-sided. Only
TR S votes polled to TDP. ``TR S did not get the TDP votes as expected,’’ TRS leaders repeatedly alleged. After the TRS’ outburst, it was the
turn of the Left to blame the TDP. A section of the CPI leaders alleged that
the alliance with TDP backfired in the elections. CPI also pointed fingers at
the CPM for ditching the CPI. Now, the CPI leaders are trying to
rope in Praja Rajyam Party under the umbrella of the Grand Alliance.
The CPM too blamed the TDP for its poor-show in the election. However, unlike the CPI the CPM leaders did not blast the yellow party.
The TDP on the other hand was guarded in its reaction. “All the observations
made by TR S and the Left leaders were the internal matters of the
respective parties,’’ a TDP leader said. But, the TDP too is of the opinion that
the the alliance with TRS had done more damage to the party both in Telangana
and Andhra regions. The Congress got 50 Assembly seats in the Telangana without forging any alliances, a TDP leader observed. The TDP will discuss the alliances issue and the performance of the Grand Alliance in the three-day review meetings of the party scheduled from June 25. On the future of the alliance, a TDP leader remarked that it would be discussed only after five years. On the alliances in the forthcoming local body elections, another leader said
that the party would discuss and take a decision soon. But, reacting to CPI’s invitation to the PRP to join the Grand Alliance, PRP chief Chiranjeevi said that his party had no objection to join the alliance, provided the TDP was kept out of it. The TDP too may not like to work with the PRP. Whether the CPI would
prefer TDP or PRP in the local body elections remains to be seen. On its part, the TDP was willing to work together with the CPM. vvbalakrishna@epmltd.com
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Patchwork electoral alliance falling apart
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 25 Jun 2009 11:07:19 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: After the electoral debacle, the principal partners of the Grand Alliance (GA) are now poles apart. As all the hopes of the GA partners withered away in the recently-concluded General Elections, the parties are drifting away in search of new allies. The principal partner in the Grand
Alliance, Telugu Desam Party, appears to have become isolated.
After the Alliance failed in the elections, it was the Telangana Rashtra
Samithi (TRS) that was first to blame the TDP for the poll reverses. The TRS
alleged that transfer of votes between TDP and TRS were one-sided. Only
TR S votes polled to TDP. ``TR S did not get the TDP votes as expected,’’ TRS leaders repeatedly alleged. After the TRS’ outburst, it was the
turn of the Left to blame the TDP. A section of the CPI leaders alleged that
the alliance with TDP backfired in the elections. CPI also pointed fingers at
the CPM for ditching the CPI. Now, the CPI leaders are trying to
rope in Praja Rajyam Party under the umbrella of the Grand Alliance.
The CPM too blamed the TDP for its poor-show in the election. However, unlike the CPI the CPM leaders did not blast the yellow party.
The TDP on the other hand was guarded in its reaction. “All the observations
made by TR S and the Left leaders were the internal matters of the
respective parties,’’ a TDP leader said. But, the TDP too is of the opinion that
the the alliance with TRS had done more damage to the party both in Telangana
and Andhra regions. The Congress got 50 Assembly seats in the Telangana without forging any alliances, a TDP leader observed. The TDP will discuss the alliances issue and the performance of the Grand Alliance in the three-day review meetings of the party scheduled from June 25. On the future of the alliance, a TDP leader remarked that it would be discussed only after five years. On the alliances in the forthcoming local body elections, another leader said
that the party would discuss and take a decision soon. But, reacting to CPI’s invitation to the PRP to join the Grand Alliance, PRP chief Chiranjeevi said that his party had no objection to join the alliance, provided the TDP was kept out of it. The TDP too may not like to work with the PRP. Whether the CPI would
prefer TDP or PRP in the local body elections remains to be seen. On its part, the TDP was willing to work together with the CPM. vvbalakrishna@epmltd.com
First Published : 25 Jun 2009 11:07:19 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: After the electoral debacle, the principal partners of the Grand Alliance (GA) are now poles apart. As all the hopes of the GA partners withered away in the recently-concluded General Elections, the parties are drifting away in search of new allies. The principal partner in the Grand
Alliance, Telugu Desam Party, appears to have become isolated.
After the Alliance failed in the elections, it was the Telangana Rashtra
Samithi (TRS) that was first to blame the TDP for the poll reverses. The TRS
alleged that transfer of votes between TDP and TRS were one-sided. Only
TR S votes polled to TDP. ``TR S did not get the TDP votes as expected,’’ TRS leaders repeatedly alleged. After the TRS’ outburst, it was the
turn of the Left to blame the TDP. A section of the CPI leaders alleged that
the alliance with TDP backfired in the elections. CPI also pointed fingers at
the CPM for ditching the CPI. Now, the CPI leaders are trying to
rope in Praja Rajyam Party under the umbrella of the Grand Alliance.
The CPM too blamed the TDP for its poor-show in the election. However, unlike the CPI the CPM leaders did not blast the yellow party.
The TDP on the other hand was guarded in its reaction. “All the observations
made by TR S and the Left leaders were the internal matters of the
respective parties,’’ a TDP leader said. But, the TDP too is of the opinion that
the the alliance with TRS had done more damage to the party both in Telangana
and Andhra regions. The Congress got 50 Assembly seats in the Telangana without forging any alliances, a TDP leader observed. The TDP will discuss the alliances issue and the performance of the Grand Alliance in the three-day review meetings of the party scheduled from June 25. On the future of the alliance, a TDP leader remarked that it would be discussed only after five years. On the alliances in the forthcoming local body elections, another leader said
that the party would discuss and take a decision soon. But, reacting to CPI’s invitation to the PRP to join the Grand Alliance, PRP chief Chiranjeevi said that his party had no objection to join the alliance, provided the TDP was kept out of it. The TDP too may not like to work with the PRP. Whether the CPI would
prefer TDP or PRP in the local body elections remains to be seen. On its part, the TDP was willing to work together with the CPM. vvbalakrishna@epmltd.com
Prodigals returning to parent parties
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 30 Jun 2009 10:11:40 AM IST
Last Updated : 30 Jun 2009 12:06:16 PM IST
HYDERABAD: The Ayaram Gayaram rigmarole is usually witnessed in State politics during election time.
Now, one month after the results and with the a government in place, the reverse flow is taking place with the Gayarams returning to the parent parties -- or poised to do so.
Several leaders who joined the Praja Rajyam Party are making the trek back, realising that their old pastures were greener. Others too are about to follow suit. In the meanwhile, they have been keeping away from PRP activities.
And the Congress and TDP are not averse to welcoming back the prodigals.
Today, former Alamur MLA VVSS Chowdary, who had unsuccessfully contested the Mandapet Assembly seat, quit the Praja Rajyam and is likely to join the Congress. As for the TDP and Congress, they have opened the doors for those who want to return.
This is with an eye on the forthcoming local body elections, as also to strengthen the party in the respective Assembly segments in the long run. Speculation is rife in TDP circles as to who will return to the party from the PRP. Several big names, including T Devender Goud and Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao are doing the rounds.
TDP MLA M Narasimhulu and others have urged TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu to welcome back the leaders from PRP.
“Several leaders who quit the party before elections are seniors. They were with the party right from its inception. It is not wrong to invite them back again,’’ Narasimhulu maintained.
“If Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao rejoins, the party will be strengthened in West Godavari,’’ said a former politburo member from the district. “Our leaders are in touch with some of the erstwhile TDP members in the PRP,’’ another added.
Cold calculation is at the heart of it all.
One TDP leader has summed it up neatly: “There was initial hype over the PRP’s prospects. Several of our leaders migrated, whereas people from the Congress waited till nomination time. By that time it had become clear that the PRP would not come to power, and the Congress folks stayed put. But the erstwhile TDP leaders were stuck in the PRP and were unable to return. This hurt their old party because its cadre base had been depleted while that of the Congress was intact.’’ Now the TDP realises that if it is to pose a serious challenge in 2014, the turncoats will have to be taken back.
First Published : 30 Jun 2009 10:11:40 AM IST
Last Updated : 30 Jun 2009 12:06:16 PM IST
HYDERABAD: The Ayaram Gayaram rigmarole is usually witnessed in State politics during election time.
Now, one month after the results and with the a government in place, the reverse flow is taking place with the Gayarams returning to the parent parties -- or poised to do so.
Several leaders who joined the Praja Rajyam Party are making the trek back, realising that their old pastures were greener. Others too are about to follow suit. In the meanwhile, they have been keeping away from PRP activities.
And the Congress and TDP are not averse to welcoming back the prodigals.
Today, former Alamur MLA VVSS Chowdary, who had unsuccessfully contested the Mandapet Assembly seat, quit the Praja Rajyam and is likely to join the Congress. As for the TDP and Congress, they have opened the doors for those who want to return.
This is with an eye on the forthcoming local body elections, as also to strengthen the party in the respective Assembly segments in the long run. Speculation is rife in TDP circles as to who will return to the party from the PRP. Several big names, including T Devender Goud and Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao are doing the rounds.
TDP MLA M Narasimhulu and others have urged TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu to welcome back the leaders from PRP.
“Several leaders who quit the party before elections are seniors. They were with the party right from its inception. It is not wrong to invite them back again,’’ Narasimhulu maintained.
“If Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao rejoins, the party will be strengthened in West Godavari,’’ said a former politburo member from the district. “Our leaders are in touch with some of the erstwhile TDP members in the PRP,’’ another added.
Cold calculation is at the heart of it all.
One TDP leader has summed it up neatly: “There was initial hype over the PRP’s prospects. Several of our leaders migrated, whereas people from the Congress waited till nomination time. By that time it had become clear that the PRP would not come to power, and the Congress folks stayed put. But the erstwhile TDP leaders were stuck in the PRP and were unable to return. This hurt their old party because its cadre base had been depleted while that of the Congress was intact.’’ Now the TDP realises that if it is to pose a serious challenge in 2014, the turncoats will have to be taken back.
Are Govt schemes reaching actual beneficiaries
VV Balakrishna
First Published : 11 Jul 2009 10:54:17 AM IST
:
HYDERABAD: Congress MP Manda Jagannadham might have hit national headlines after slapping a bank manager, but the incident has thrown up several questions.
While some of them related to the conduct of the parties involved in the incident, some others go deeper into the issue - the role of bankers
and politicians in disbursal of Government aid and whether the beneficiary is getting crushed between their conflicting interests.
In the incident, shown on TV, Nagarkurnool MP Jagannadham walks up to G Ravinder Reddy, branch manager of AP Grameema Vikas Bank in Uppununthala, and asks him why he has been withholding loans.
He gives his own reasons. They indulge in a heated exchange and Jagannadham, shouting expletives, slaps the manager.
The incident triggered protests by bank employees.
However, the MP justified his action.
With the intervention of bigwigs, including Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, both parties finally came to truce but vital questions remain unanswered - Who is taking the money away from banks? Are the Government schemes reaching the actual beneficiaries? In the Uppununthala incident, the MP became furious for the six-month delay in grounding of 10 units sanctioned for SCs. The bank manager, on the other hand, said he had his own reasons and that only a probe would reveal why he had to sit on the applications for five months.
The units have been sanctioned under schemes such as Scheduled Castes Action Plan (SCAP) and Modified Area Development Agency (MADA) aimed at empowering youths. The Government provides 50 percent subsidy for each unit apart from ensuring loan to the beneficiary to cover the remaining investment.
With the issue coming into the open, the bankers now allege that right from sarpanch to MP every politico wants loans to be sanctioned to their followers most of whom are ineligible for the assistance. According to a bank official, three of the 10 units were recommended by the MP but only one was eligible for assistance. One of the applicants does not live in the village where he sought aid nor does he own the electrical shop for which he wanted money.
``The henchmen of politicians feel that they have a right to bank loans and a privilege not to repay them,’’ remarked a rural bank manager indicating how politicians try to usurp benefits for their people.
Nowhere is this misuse more glaring than at Uppununthala itself. The bank records show that of the 226 self-employment units sanctioned in the last 20 years, 80 per cent are either defunct or the loan is overdue.
While the dues have scaled to Rs 32 lakh, the non-performing assets (NPAs) have reached Rs 20 lakh.
This is being cited as the main reason for bankers not meeting targets in implementation of schemes intended for SCs and STs. ``I am not against sanction of loan to a genuine SC beneficiary,’’ Ravinder Reddy said.
To avoid political interference and weed out bogus beneficiaries, selections should be done through Grama Sabhas (village meetings), felt members of a Bank Employees’ Association.
``In some cases, the fault lies with bank staff.
Some managers issue loans indiscriminately to ineligible persons for commissions. Selection of beneficiaries through Grama Sabhas will solve this problem also,’’ said APRR BEA president Ravikanth. Lack of adequate staff was also affecting the functioning of rural banks.
Several branches did not have field supervisors for physical verification of units. Many branches are being run with just a cashier and a manager as recruitment was stopped 20 years ago, he said.
When the State-Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meets next time to prepare credit plan, the bankers should think of ways to ensure that loans reach genuine beneficiaries.
``The slapgate row should not be viewed as a dispute between two individuals, but as a fallout of a faulty delivery mechanism,’’ a bank manager remarked.
vvbalakrishna@epmltd.com
First Published : 11 Jul 2009 10:54:17 AM IST
:
HYDERABAD: Congress MP Manda Jagannadham might have hit national headlines after slapping a bank manager, but the incident has thrown up several questions.
While some of them related to the conduct of the parties involved in the incident, some others go deeper into the issue - the role of bankers
and politicians in disbursal of Government aid and whether the beneficiary is getting crushed between their conflicting interests.
In the incident, shown on TV, Nagarkurnool MP Jagannadham walks up to G Ravinder Reddy, branch manager of AP Grameema Vikas Bank in Uppununthala, and asks him why he has been withholding loans.
He gives his own reasons. They indulge in a heated exchange and Jagannadham, shouting expletives, slaps the manager.
The incident triggered protests by bank employees.
However, the MP justified his action.
With the intervention of bigwigs, including Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, both parties finally came to truce but vital questions remain unanswered - Who is taking the money away from banks? Are the Government schemes reaching the actual beneficiaries? In the Uppununthala incident, the MP became furious for the six-month delay in grounding of 10 units sanctioned for SCs. The bank manager, on the other hand, said he had his own reasons and that only a probe would reveal why he had to sit on the applications for five months.
The units have been sanctioned under schemes such as Scheduled Castes Action Plan (SCAP) and Modified Area Development Agency (MADA) aimed at empowering youths. The Government provides 50 percent subsidy for each unit apart from ensuring loan to the beneficiary to cover the remaining investment.
With the issue coming into the open, the bankers now allege that right from sarpanch to MP every politico wants loans to be sanctioned to their followers most of whom are ineligible for the assistance. According to a bank official, three of the 10 units were recommended by the MP but only one was eligible for assistance. One of the applicants does not live in the village where he sought aid nor does he own the electrical shop for which he wanted money.
``The henchmen of politicians feel that they have a right to bank loans and a privilege not to repay them,’’ remarked a rural bank manager indicating how politicians try to usurp benefits for their people.
Nowhere is this misuse more glaring than at Uppununthala itself. The bank records show that of the 226 self-employment units sanctioned in the last 20 years, 80 per cent are either defunct or the loan is overdue.
While the dues have scaled to Rs 32 lakh, the non-performing assets (NPAs) have reached Rs 20 lakh.
This is being cited as the main reason for bankers not meeting targets in implementation of schemes intended for SCs and STs. ``I am not against sanction of loan to a genuine SC beneficiary,’’ Ravinder Reddy said.
To avoid political interference and weed out bogus beneficiaries, selections should be done through Grama Sabhas (village meetings), felt members of a Bank Employees’ Association.
``In some cases, the fault lies with bank staff.
Some managers issue loans indiscriminately to ineligible persons for commissions. Selection of beneficiaries through Grama Sabhas will solve this problem also,’’ said APRR BEA president Ravikanth. Lack of adequate staff was also affecting the functioning of rural banks.
Several branches did not have field supervisors for physical verification of units. Many branches are being run with just a cashier and a manager as recruitment was stopped 20 years ago, he said.
When the State-Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meets next time to prepare credit plan, the bankers should think of ways to ensure that loans reach genuine beneficiaries.
``The slapgate row should not be viewed as a dispute between two individuals, but as a fallout of a faulty delivery mechanism,’’ a bank manager remarked.
vvbalakrishna@epmltd.com
Landholders turn destitutes
Express News Service
First Published : 10 Jul 2009 02:08:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 10 Jul 2009 10:16:08 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Just two years ago, they were landholders.
Now, after being forced to sell their holdings, all they can hope for is menial jobs like toilet cleaning at units coming up on their own lands.
This is the pathetic tale of around 342 families in four villages who sold 819 acres to the APICC for the Toopran Industrial Park and the Automotive Park.
The victims of the Toopran industrial park poured out their woes before the media here today.
Supported by Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika, many of them want back the lands acquired by the APIIC in Kallakal, Muppireddypalli, Jeedipally and Kucharam. ``In the name of industrial parks, the government is encouraging real estate business,’’ several victims allege.
Says Narasimhulu, an oustee, the APIIC acquired their lands to set up 39 units.
Only three have come up so far. As per the assurance, each displaced farmer was to be given in compensation for land a job and a house site.
``Sparsa, one unit that has come up, told us that they had 20 vacancies.
But they conducted interviews only for seven and offered only three. The job was to clean machines in the factory. When we asked for more jobs, the industry offered toilet cleaning and other such duties,’’ Narasimhulu complained.As no assurance had been fulfilled so far, the victims are demanding their lands back.
Points out one Mallaiah: ``If we lose one crop, we can still hope for another.
But should we lose a temporary job offered by industry, where is the guarantee of getting another?’’ And another oustee, Bagareddy, alleges that the MLR car factory which got vast tracts of land has already sold away parts of it.
Some of the displaced say they were removed without their consent, and that the APIIC forcibly took away their lands.
And though the revenue officials issued cheques for Rs 5 lakh to some farmers, many did not get the compensation.
``While paying compensation, the officials denied amounts to those who purchased lands from original assignees and non-locals,’’ the victims alleged.
Also, whereas the government paid Rs 5 lakh per acre to each farmer it sold the same to the industrialist for Rs 50 lakh.
The market rate now is between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore, the oustees point out.
Usha, who is studying SEZs and industrial parks, said the units in Toopran Park were yet to get going.
Retired professor Vanamali, Prof. Haragopal, Virasam leader Vara Vara Rao, Prof. M Kodanda Ram and others who attended the conference extended their support to the victims.
Kondanda Ram said they would keep up the agitation, meet peoples’ representatives and see to it that the issue figured in the coming session of the State Legislative Assembly with the demand that the government hand the lands back to the farmers.
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