In contrast to KCR’s numbers and the need to add more MLAs to his kitty, Telugu Desam is planning to induct more MLAs from the Opposition showing scanty respect for the prevalent anti-defection law. It only speaks of its greed rather than need. Even if it were to be the case of need too, it isn’t passable morally, but it’s ok politically.
If TDP legislators had deserted the party to join the YSR Congress before the 2014 elections, probably they miscalculated their winning fortunes. Though their defection too wasn’t scrupulous by any manner of means, they cannot be charged with crossing over to gain power or pelf as it was switchover from one opposition to the other.
This cannot be compared on any scale with the crossing over of a Talasani Srinivas Yadav or Manchireddy Kishan Reddy to the TRS in Telangana and Bhuma & Co’s shifting to the TDP in AP.
Well, Jagan’s utterances that he can pull down the government — he tried to make up for that by giving a feeble explanation that doesn’t negate the effect of his erstwhile ranting– have only accelerated the phase one list of turncoats to make a headlong jump. Jagan’s blabber of toppling governments isn’t new either. He did so in the term of N Kiran Kumar Reddy, the now-forgotten last Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, which prompted the Congress to get Chiranjeevi’s fledgling Praja Rajyam on board.
So did Naidu in embracing Bhuma and Adinarayana Reddy and all.
Jagan should know his intentions are never underestimated by his rivals. They want to deal with the yak he indulges in without factoring in the ramifications.
The TDP Ministers Prathipati Pulla Rao and P Narayana on Tuesday said except Jagan, none would be left in the YSR Congress. This indicates the desperate bid of the TDP to clean up the YSRC in the Assembly.
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is mollifying the frayed tempers of the existing “imported” cadres like Silpa Mohan Reddy and Gangula Pratap Reddy and “homegrown” leaders like P Ramasubba Reddy (of Jammalamadugu) suggesting that the number of Assembly Constituencies in the State would increase from the current 175 to 225 and therefore all could be accommodated.
However, what’s intriguing is whether such delimitation doesn’t require a Parliamentary nod? If yes, why will the Congress which is decimated in both Telugu States approve of it?
Can the Government (NDA) that is still grappling with the passage of Goods and Services Tax Bill for want of numbers in the Upper House have its way and say on the delimitation of Assembly seats in AP and Telangana?
It was already clarified twice that the delimitation could not be taken up before 2024 elections. Is Naidu counting his chicks before their proverbial hatching?
Gaining an upper hand over the opposition is surely appreciated in the game of political oneupmanship. But decimating opposition outside the electoral fray is not a healthy practice.
Yes, YS Rajasekhara Reddy had commenced the mission called “operation Akarsh” to attract MLAs from the Opposition because of the wafer-thin margin his party had secured. That was absolutely unethical, for sure.
But the process of ousting of the late NTR from the position of the president of the Telugu Desam Party which he had founded and the Chief Minister which he had won pledging his own strengths was something that preceded the Akarsh mission by almost 15 years.
One must note that as many as 32 MLAs and eight Politburo members left the TDP between 2012 and 2016 (so far).
Today Jagan is at the receiving end in the vicious cycle of political race for supremacy.
Immaturity, coupled with an ‘impeccable’ insulation around himself, can never make Jagan a leader to match the math and chemistry Chandrababu Naidu has not only with his own teams, but every one including Jagan’s teams.
Chandrababu moves his goalposts farther after crossing them. Jagan’s goalpost plays truant and it moves on its own to remain elusive.
