The families fight it out as if they own the party

Telugu news channels and some of the mainstream newspapers have reported in detail the crisis that hit the Telugu Desam Party in Krishna District. If the news reports are to be believed the happenings in Krishna district are just the ripples. The epicenter of the political-quake is situated in Banjara Hills. The cause for the mini tsunami in Telugu Desam party is the fight for the rights of the party, the NTR Bhavan and of course the legacy of NTR.

It is reported that Nandamuri Hari Krishna, son of NTR and a member of the Rajya Sabha is deeply hurt at being sidelined by his brother-in-law and the TDP Chief Chandrababu. It is reported that the recent revolt in Krishna district by Vallabhaneni Vamsi and Kodali Nani against the TDP functionaries in the district was instigated by Hari Krishna. There were reports that suggested that the fight Kodali Nani and Vamsi put up against former minister Devineni Uma Maheshwar Rao was actual a shadow fight against Chandrababu Naidu.

The supposed succession war between NTR Jr. and Lokesh was said to be the hidden cause of the rift between their fathers. The fathers it is said indulged in shadow boxing as they deputed their loyalists to slug it out for them. Purandeswari was dragged into the affair. As Hari Krishna declined to be a part of Chandrababu’s march against corruption and went on distributing pamphlets invoking his father’s name and announcing his own war against corruption; the media reported it as a fight between the Nandamuri family and the Nara family for the control of the party. Neither the Nara family nor those in Nandamuri family have confirmed the news. In the melee Vamsi has offered an unconditional apology to Chandrababu Naidu

If what the media that there is a war of succession in TDP is true then it makes TDP a sad place. NTR started the party as an alternative to the Congress (I) which by the early eighties legitimized “dynasty politics”. The party, while initially was helped by the charisma of NTR’s brand of cine-politics was built brick by brick in the eighties. It had a well managed network with lakhs of cadres. It was a party which attracted and placated crores of the backward caste voters, who seldom fit in the Congress (I) scheme of things. The party has contributed immensely to the nation as it strengthened the concept of federalism which led to democratization of the centre-state relationship.

However, it has not democratized itself. Chandrababu Naidu succeeded NTR. The next successors, by popular consensus seem to be either Lokesh or NTR Jr. both of whom are the grandsons of NTR. One of these two, sooner or later will replace Chandrababu as the TDP President leapfrogging lakhs of committed cadre, scores of second rung leaders. Neither NTR’s family nor the Nara family owns the TDP. For that matter the Gandhi’s do not own the Congress (I). After all political parties are not and cannot be registered as private firms under the rules of Indian constitution. That each of the parties, barring the left and the BJP is under the control of a family is unfortunate. Why cannot TDP, whose leaders speak of reforms bring in the much needed intra-party reforms and democratize it? Why cannot they have primaries in which the party cadre will decide who will head the party?

To expect that political formations that are undemocratic by choice will uphold the democratic values is naïve thinking. It is not to suggest that TDP is worse than other parties, after all each of them flout the spirit of democracy within and outside their parties. Democratization within the party leads to empowerment of cadre and would make the life of the leaders difficult. But would it not be superb for the political parties to reform themselves, hold meaningful intra party elections and let the cadre choose their leaders at the ward/ village level, district level and the state level. The approach that the parties follow today is a top down approach which is not beneficial for strengthening the party. Until the parties reform the tamasha will continue. The fight between Vallabhaneni Vamsi and Devineni Uma Maheshwar Rao is not the disease but a symptom. The cure for it does not lie in the politics of Krishna district but in the minds of men who rule over the NTR Bhavan.

Editorial by: JC

FRACAS IN THE ASSEMBLY

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly

I have just seen the news that there has been some jostling in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, involving members of the Telugu Desam Party and the Congress (I). It comes just forty days after the manhandling of DR. Jayaprakash Narayan on the premises of the Assembly. The current budget session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly has been very little discussion on the budget. It has been adjourned more than often.

While inept Assembly sessions have become the norm in Andhra Pradesh, particularly over the last couple of years, I cannot recall the last time there such tension and violence in the house. Well one might argue that a slap in anger, or a push or a shove should not be blown out of proportion, but we are discussing the conduct of our beloved Members of Legislative Assemblies, who represent an entire constituency. These MLAs are no kids in the park fighting over the right to bat. Each of them is symbolic of the hopes that we the voters have. After all have not elected them, discounting the other contenders in the elections!!!

A supposedly provocative speech by Dr. JP was all that KTR required to shout “Kottandiraa Vadnee.” Well KTR and his other nine mates might have been infuriated with the speech of DR. JP. But does that justify KTR to provoke his henchmen to bash up another MLA. KTR and his friends could have addressed another press conference, if they wanted to prove their point. However, it seems to me KTR and his friends were more interested in playing to the galleries.

Today, there are reports that a minister has slapped another member of the house (pushed and jostled if you go by some other sources). While the minister could have been infuriated with the opposition’s attempts to malign his departed brother; he could have probably shown his displeasure in another manner. It is despicable that our law makers are turning into law breakers in front of media and their colleagues. I shudder to think what their tolerance limits would be in the private realm when they are way from the public gaze.

It is said most of our MLAs have criminal background. It is also reported that most of them use intemperate language. I guess it has been a case so far. But to indulge in your whims in public, resort to violence in the house is to demean the nation, and the constitution. Right outside the Legislative Assembly is a giant statue of Mohandas Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, who said “an eye for eye makes us all blind”. It is ironical that our legislators seem to be physically fighting each other right behind his back.

The current budget session ends in a couple of days, with little discussion on the budget. The budget session is the most important of all the sessions. The actions of our representatives seem to suggest that they do not have time for budget. Perhaps it is time for us to rethink our choices and replace the mainstream parties with new political culture.  

Editorial by: Joe Christopher

Chirenjeevi and Change...

K. Chirenjeevi & N. Kiran Kumar Reddy

Karl Marx once said that Change is the only constant in nature. It implies that changes are inevitable. The political happenings of twentieth century are a testimony to it. Many changes have occurred within and to those systems that seemed immune to it. However, there have been very few attempts to comprehend the idea of change. While the editorial is too small a place to deliberate on the philosophical implications of change, we could focus on the plight of “change champion” in Andhra Pradesh. It is important to understand the idea of change as every new political formation centres its discourse on the transformations that it will bring in into the polity.

Change is the new mantra. Obama said it and swept Hillary Clinton first and then the Republicans aside on his march to the White House. Closer home, our matinee idol, Chiranjeevi adopted Obama’s lingo, tried to play the underdog and uttered the magic word “CHANGE”, as he promised to arrive as a viable alternative to both the Congress  and the TDP. Besides sections of his fans and his community voting for him, the magic word change had an effect on the neutral vote (the actual deciding vote in any election) which ensured that his party received 18% of the total votes polled.

The rhetoric of change coupled with “social justice” (plus fan clubs and community vote) ensured that the Megastar’s Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) had polled more than 70 lakh votes. The party won in 18 seats. The party’s performance at General Elections in 2009 was neither a blockbuster nor a flop. Bad performance in elections is not a crime and PRP’s performance was not as dismal as it was made out to be. In matured democracies which have adopted proportional representation, Chiru with his 18% votes could have emerged as a potent political force. It is a tragedy that in our first past the post kind of democracy he was relegated to the backbenches.

The fighter that he is on the screen, Chiranjeevi should have used his popularity his 18% votes and 18 MLAs to strive for electoral reforms and usher in change. It is a travesty that he has sold his popularity and the trust of voters as he merged his party with the Congress. Only this afternoon Chiranjeevi was briefing the press of his supposed role in the Grand Old Party. He seemed pretty excited of campaigning in Tamil Nadu elections, as directed by his Madam. The new found exuberance seems ill-founded. After all wasn’t PRP supposed to dislodge the Congress? Didn’t Chiru accuse the Congress (and also the TDP/ BJP et al.) of political corruption and nepotism? Wasn’t PRP formed to seep out the old and the bad?

Chiranjeevi as a film personality is (some might argue was) a demi-god in Andhra Pradesh. I am not aware of his popularity in Tamil Nadu. The leaders of the dominant political formations Karunanidhi, Jayalalitha, Vijay Kanth are all legends of Tamil Cinema. Each of them is a seasoned politician too. In 2004 Rajnikanth had to eat the proverbial humble pie as his fans rejected his direction to vote for the AIADMK& BJP. So what effect would Chiru’s appeal to vote for the Congress-DMK combine have on the Tamil Nadu electorate? Nobody would grudge Chiranjeevi campaigning for his party, but to express childish happiness and exuberance at an invitation (or order) from Madam to campaign in a neighboring state is to undermine himself and demean the voters who reposed their faith in him.

Marx emphasized that “History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, then as a farce.” The adage seems apt for Chiranjeevi, who is now relegated to being one of the many MLAs of Congress in the State. In the next elections (2011, 2012 or 2014 is anybody’s guess) Chiranjeevi might emerge as one of the faces of the Congress. But that is a big might, for he might even end up as the proverbial “has been”.

Democracy is bigger than personalities and parties and if personalities and parties betray people and do not strive to bring in change, people will take it upon themselves and bring it. Events that occurred in the Arab world over the last couple of months testify the same. Chiranjeevi the “champion of change” has let us down, but the strength of change will prevail. However, to bring in change one needs to have diligence and patience which Chiranjeevi the Megastar had in abundance in the film world. Sadly, for all of us he seemed to have lost them as he shifted into politics.


Editorial by: J.Christopher

Why the travails of TDP do not help constructive politics in Telugu Nadu?

N. Chandra Babu Naidu (Former CM of AP.)

Telugu Desam Party the principle opposition party in Andhra Pradesh has turned thirty this year. Over the last three decades the TDP has contributed immensely to the state and national polity. Led the charismatic NTR it stormed to power thrice, besides directly influencing the formation of alternative political fronts at the national level. Under the stewardship of Chandrababu Naidu who deposed his father-in-law and the patriarch of the party, the TDP ruled for nine long years, besides twice propping up governments in centre. Chandrababu used to speak of leading the state for twenty more years, until the public of the Telugu Nadu cruelly showed him the door in 2004. Almost seven long summers years have passed since TDP was voted out of power. The party has weathered quite a few crises over the last seven years. Desertion of its leaders, cadres, the duplicity over its Telangana stance, failure of the Mahakutami experiment in 2009, near revolt by the second rung leadership and so on. Since the mid-nineties the party’s performance while leading Government is mixed at its best while its show as the principle opposition has often been shoddy. If writings (or rumors) on a couple of websites are to believed, Chandrababu Naidu  has almost reconciled to the fact that he might never make it to the top post once again.

It is unfortunate that a political formation which began as a viable political alternative to the hegemony of the Congress (I) seems to be running out of the stream. NTR promised that his party will be everything that the Congress (I) was not. TDP briefly lived up to its promise. It worked towards a meaningful federalism. NTR in line with his Marxists friends [the CPI and the CPI (M)] strengthened the secular political networks which effectively checkmated the communal forces. NTR upheld welfare mechanisms and a plethora of his schemes like subsidized rice, prohibition of manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor, though dubbed populist in some quarters, made the life of the common man easy. NTR, despite his stinginess, was by popular consensus a non-corrupt politician. He was the man who brought in the idea of Telugu Nadu which enabled Andhra Pradesh remain a unified state till date.

Since the demise of NTR the path of the TDP veered. New leader brought in a new vision. However, the new ideas seem to have eaten into the vitals of the party, as the TDP discarded its leftist friends (only to befriend them again after a decade) for the communal parties like the BJP. It discarded the welfare economics for the neo-liberal economic policies which world over are viewed with skepticism. While NTR worked on and succeeded in strengthening federalism which decentralized power and empowered the State Governments, Chandrababu did nothing to note in decentralizing power further. He sat on the suggestions to strengthen the Local Governments. He wavered on the idea of Telangana and his “two eyes” policy seems insincere. Lastly Chandrababu Naidu does not have non-corrupt image.

It is not to discount the contribution of Chandrababu Naidu to the State and to the TDP. His contribution to the IT revolution and his role in the second generation economic reforms were celebrated. He was the poster boy of India Inc. However, farmers’ suicides, neglect of social sector particularly of education and health, insufficient investment in agriculture have damaged the prospects of the state. Over the last seven years his role as the opposition leader has been lacked luster and he seems to be running out of ideas very often.

This does not augur well for the state. The state requires strong and imaginative opposition. Instead of focusing on individuals (his favorite theme is the corruption of YSR and his son YS Jagan) he has to guide his party to focus on issues like agriculture, health, education, employment opportunities; brain storm and come up with innovative solutions. Today, there are allegations that he is resorting to match-fixing with the Congress (I) to contain YS. Jagan. These could be just rumors, but if they are to be true it does not augur well for Andhra Pradesh, for TDP and Chandrababu should be working towards gaining power. It does them no good to help the Congress (I) fight the thirty something scion of the YS family.

It would be very productive if Chandrababu Naidu focuses his energies towards the General Elections 2014, where he has a good chance of coming back to power. He could be the king again, but for that he needs to recreate himself and sell himself amongst the electorate. Constructive opposition is quintessential to a democracy and that is the means to get back to power. If TDP cannot make it in 2014, its political requiem can be sung. After all nobody remembers the bridesmaid or the best man after the wedding.

Editorial by: Joe Christopher

On Elections to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council...!!!

Members of Legislative Council

Andhra Pradesh appears to be a source of never ending tamasha and the scheduled elections for Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council is the latest source of entertainment for most us. The elections seem to be giving nightmares to every mainstream political party. There are allegations of cross voting, horse trading, political match fixing, poaching and it is rumored that political parties are spending crores of rupees for every seat in the Legislative Council. The Jagan factor, crisis in the Congress party and the fielding of a candidate by the TRS have mitigated the crisis further.

 In midst of all these political shenanigans, it seems that nobody has the time or the sense to question the relevance of Legislative Council. What is Legislative Council and what is its role in governance? Why do we require bicameral legislation, after all till 2006 Andhra Pradesh followed unicameral legislature. Hadn’t NTR discontinued the Legislative Council way back in mid eighties?  

The role of the Upper House is to act as the stabilizing force, or as a guide to the Legislative Assembly whose members are popularly elected. It needs to be constituted with eminent personalities who have the sagacity to advice elected leaders. The keyword here is ‘advice.’  Advice is never binding and sound advice comes from well-informed, respected, experienced men and women whose lives are a testimony of their integrity. In bicameral legislation it is expected that the lower house consists of democratically elected leaders who are elected through adult franchise. One of the most important duties of those elected to the lower houses is to rationally elect their advisors (the constituents of Upper House) with due diligence. The Upper House needs to be represented by the intelligentsia (including artists, doctors, scientists, academicians, former policy makers et al.), who otherwise do not have the time and energy to contest general elections, but nevertheless are required to be a part of the decision making bodies for larger common good. They are supposed to guide the state adopt well meaning inclusive policies.

  Unfortunately, membership to the Upper House today is a means to placate warring groups in political parties, or rehabilitate defeated or aged politicians. It has become a means for the parties to express gratitude to those who either fund political parties or campaign for them. Affiliations of caste and region affect its constitution. As the stakes get higher, membership to Legislative Council has morphed from a position of responsibility to one of privilege. One no longer finds men and women of stature in Legislative Council as money bags have forced them aside.

The recent acts of violence in the concluded elections to the graduates’ and teachers’ representatives to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, reports of alleged horse trading and match fixing amongst those being elected through the local bodies is disheartening. About those being elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly the less said the much better. At this juncture it is pertinent that we examine the role being played by Upper Houses, today. Upper Houses consisting of eminent, law abiding citizens are very vital for the functioning of our democracy. Political parties, left, right or centre have to realize that they have let down the country and its people as they degraded the status of Upper Houses.

The quality of those who make it to the Upper Houses indirectly depends on the quality of the voters. After all our representatives (be they MLAs or Local Government representatives) elect most of those who make it to the Upper Houses. Hence, it is necessary that we vote carefully and choose our representatives.  

Editorial by: Joe Christopher

Cricket vs Politics

Within minutes of Indian team defeating the Sri Lankan team in the final of the ICC World Cup the youth in the city responded spontaneously. There were crowds on almost every street of the city and young men cutting across class and caste affiliations celebrated the victory. There has been an occasion over the last few decades which saw the youth assemble in large numbers and enjoy without inhibitions. The victory of the nation is the elixir from which our youth are inspired.

The victory of the team is a victory for India’s plurality and dynamism both of which are perpetually threatened by divisive political forces. It was only last month that parochial forces in the guise of sub-regionalism tried their best to misguide youth to indulge in violence. Popular press has reported that the political party has resorted to every gimmick to assemble one million youth. It spent crores of rupees, yet not more that few thousands joined their call. But the few thousands damaged the reputation of the city, the state, the language and culture.

However, this night Hyderabad celebrated voluntarily and spontaneously. The rich and the poor danced together, hugged each other and yelled Jai Ho. The camaraderie might be momentary, it will vanish tomorrow. But cricket has done what TRS and such parochial parties failed to do that is bring people together, and provide hope and succor to an entire nation, particularly to its youth.

Editorial by: Joe Christopher