Triple trouble for three parties

1. Congress must focus on failure of guarantees and anti-government sentiment
2. KCR coming out is the only way       
3. BJP needs a charismatic leader!

C L Rajam

Assembly elections in Telangana are due in roughly two years. With this, the time has come for the state’s three main parties—Congress, BRS, and BJP—to prepare for the upcoming polls. Unless they first overcome their own failures and take corrective measures, there will be no enthusiastic atmosphere of a real contest in the next elections. Political analysts say that all parties are closely examining the latest developments. Guarantees have become a millstone around Congress’s neck.

Support for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appears to be gradually strengthening. Moreover, the ruling Congress party in the state is clearly enjoying strong support from the mainstream media. Of the current Congress MLAs, nearly 25 have failed to maintain good relations with the people. Recent surveys show they have lagged behind as a result. The party high command needs to recognize the necessity of bringing new faces into these seats and must start taking action from now itself. In addition, internal squabbles are turning into a source of serious damage for the party. Coordination between old and new leaders is extremely essential. Corruption allegations are increasing day by day.

Although Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is a highly capable leader, action must be taken on the anti-incumbency against the government as well as the failure of guarantees. A completely new and innovative scheme must be introduced so that people forget all the earlier promises. If the Indiramma housing scheme is expanded on a large scale, public support will also grow accordingly. Along with this, strategies for the upcoming elections must also be implemented starting now. If KCR comes out… it will be a storm.

The main opposition BRS is gaining strong momentum. However, the primary reason for the increase in BRS support is the anti-incumbency against the ruling Congress. On one side corruption, and on the other the failure of guarantees, are driving people towards BRS. Yet, information suggests that the public holds strong resentment against at least six of the current 29 MLAs.

It is necessary to replace them without fail. KCR is the most popular leader BRS has. If he returns to the people, it will be like a storm. As part of preparations for the Assembly elections, if KCR undertakes something like a bus yatra, it is certain to create a strong wave among the people. Those who made mistakes in the past must be replaced with new faces. Greater coordination is also needed between key party leaders KTR and Harish Rao. KTR must spend more time for the cadre and the people. Having its own media is an advantageous factor for BRS.BJP needs a charismatic leader…

Compared to the other parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party continues to remain only in third place. As days pass and elections draw closer, signs are emerging that the BJP is becoming even weaker.

These are warnings for the party. Recently, the NEET paper leak and irregularities in donations at the Sri Ram Temple in Ayodhya have brought embarrassment to the party. People are demanding that the state BJP at least have one leader with state-level charisma and a strong in-charge, and that such a person be brought in. If possible, there is public aspiration that a charismatic leader of that kind should be projected as the BJP’s CM face in Telangana. Unlike in North India, there is no constant high-command intervention in Telangana politics, nor are there records of it working so effectively in the state. Moreover, the BJP receives no support from the media in the state. At a time like this, the party needs to take innovative decisions that can attract people and consolidate support. Besides this, if the BJP does not take strong and tough decisions with the sole aim of winning the Assembly elections, it may be forced into a situation of allying with the BRS.