Opposition status in a democratic set up is an opportunity for a (minority )political party to remain with the people and represent the cause of the people. The Opposition status must serve as a constant reminder to the populace and the party in power that there is a viable alternative to the incumbent political grouping. The opposition party or parties, in principle, must act as a check on the governments. It is through this opposition status that the opposition party makes its presence felt. So, political commentator James Tierney once said, “the duty of an Opposition is to propose nothing, oppose everything, and to turn out the government”. The opposition party, come what may , is not supposed to give an impression that it is helping the ruling group, in practice.
But the two important opposition parties in Telangana seem to be working against this spirit of the opposition status. In the changed political scenario two political parties YSRCP and TDP have sent across sufficient message that they are helping the ruling TRS. The YSRCP’s decision not to contest GHMC election is clearly meant to help the ruling TRS in the GHMC elections. Two days after announcing that the party would field candidates in all 150 division , YSRC made amends to its stand and announced that it ws not contesting the elections, on the pretext that it had yet to gain strength in Hyderabad. If YSR Congress is no force in Hyderabad, where Seemandhra people and industrial houses that benefited from YS Rajasekhar Reddy’s regime are a sizable community, can YSRC President YS Jagan lay his foot in Telangana outside Hyderabad. So, behind this decision, there must be something more beyond ‘we-are no- force -in-Hyderabad’ reason.
Similarly, Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna, an influential TDP leader, and brother-in-law of AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, called on Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, with a plea that the illegal structures built in Cancer Hospital be regularized. He also requested the CM to watch his movie ‘dictator’. Balaiah, as he is fondly called, chose a time when the TDP was ‘fighting’ the TRS to capture Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Is it the time for an opposition leader to meet his arch rival? Can an army commander visit his rival in midst of war to invite him for a cup of tea after war? What message would the commander send across to the army he is leading?
To make a ridiculous request for regularization of illegal construction, Balaiah could have met the T-CM anytime after the GHMC election.
What message is Balaiah sending across to the TDP supporters, allies and party workers through his meeting in the midst of GHMC war?
Like Jagan’s decision to withdraw from the GHMC polls, Balaiah’s meeting with KCR is a subtle message to their supporters in TRS favor.
The two parties very well know that they are acting against the spirit of democratic opposition and declared that they were even ready to lose the opposition identity in Hyderabad. Can a political party afford to lose its identity and take decisions that would help the ruling party without in return?
With these decisions these parties might be getting something in return. There are suspicions among sections of people that they are not simple political decisions. Then, Is it the economic interests in Hyderabad of the bosses of these parties that is governing their political decisions?
