Telangana Praja Kutami experiment to be replicated nationally

Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service
Khammam, December 4

Political parties contesting the Telangana polls under the banner of “Praja Kutami” (people’s alliance) are closely watching the outcome of this “political experiment” as they hope to replicate this to form a joint front against the BJP at the national level for the upcoming General Election.

Politicians from parties that are a part of the alliance say the only way forward to check the BJP is to fight it out together.

“Constitution is under threat and slogan has been given to unite all those who think there is grave danger from the dictatorial and communal forces. Once successful in Telangana, more parties would join in. Talks are already on with several top leaders who are just waiting for the election results in five states on December 11 before joining the alliance,” Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Politburo member Nama Nageswara Rao said.

A Praja Kutami’s supported and TDP candidate from Khammam, Rao said on the direction of TDP supreme N Chandrababu Naidu, he as a leader of TDP Parliamentary party had made efforts to unite the opposition under the banner of a third front in the 15th Lok Sabha.

The efforts failed then because all parties other than the Congress and the BJP had their own agendas to pursue.

“Another lead has now been taken by TDP president at the national level to unite all the anti-BJP parties,” he said, adding that joining hands with the Congress in Telangana has raised hopes for a united front. 

About his own party, he said that if the experiment succeeded, the TDP was hoping to expand itself as a national party, expanding its base from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to other regions.

Similarly, Telangana CPI national secretary Kankanala Narayana told ‘The Tribune’ while campaigning for one of the three CPI candidates Banoth Vijaya in Wyra (ST) constituency in eastern Telangana that the first step to strengthening the alliance would be to defeat the BJP in Telangana.

Narayana said there can’t be one formula for an alliance across every state. For example, the CPI cannot go with the Congress in Kerala where they are political rivals and similarly CPM-CPM cannot have ties with TMC in West Bengal. So, there would be state-by-state review and every party opposed to the BJP will try and come together.

“But there is no possibility of one national alliance that brings everyone under one umbrella at the national level”.

He, however, said that everyone opposed to the BJP will come together keeping their own political identities intact.

The CPI leader said BSP chief Mayawati and West Bengal chief Minister Mamta Banerjee too were keen on to be a part of this anti-BJP alliance, but were waiting for the December 11 results before taking the plunge.

Padavati Reddy, Congress candidate from Kodad, who is also the wife of state Congress president, echoed the sentiment that EVMs may be rigged by the BJP to keep Telangana Rasthra Samithi (TRS) in power.

“It is therefore very important for all anti-BJP parties to come together and check the spread of the BJP that has violated all democratic institutions.”

She said, “We have to safeguard democracy for future generations for that it is very important for all political entities to come together to curb arrogant and dictatorial leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi to safeguard the constitution.”