By taking Jagan into custody, Governments – State as well as Central – made a hero out of him!
So far he has been living on his father’s fame. His dynamism is known only thru his industrial ventures. But remember he got his riches thru succession and multiplied them because of his father’s contacts. If he has any business acumen, that is not visible so far since he did not foray into new sectors. Sakshi TV channel took too long to shape up and it showed his hesitation. Thru “Sakshi” newspaper, he is able to put up good fight against “Eenadu” and its propaganda though the latter is 30 yrs. senior to his. And he stayed put up in media business though his was not the ruling family anymore. Thru certain activities towards journalist employees, he displayed his generosity and remembered long for improving quality of life in media-men.
But this is not enough to make him a seasoned politician or a rebel like his father. He got everything for asking and he did not seem to have fought for anything. Today, when he set out on his ‘Consoling tour’ against all the obstacles created by T-leaders, his political opponents and also his party, he displayed his guts. On the bidding of high command, he was dissuaded by his well-wishers, party colleagues, family friends, his father’s ardent followers and reportedly even by his mother. But he stuck to his guns.
This is not due to obduracy but because of conviction. He believed that as a bereaved son, he has a right to go and console those who are waiting for it and no one has the authority to stop him. He tried to convince the world that the demand/threat against his tour was not reasonable. “If I kowtow to their demand now, tomorrow they might ask me not to go for canvassing in by-elections. Should I say bye-bye to by-elections?”, he asked. Very sensible argument.
How can anyone issue Kodandaram-kind of commands, I do not understand. Initially KCR was reasonable. He said “Let Jagan come here and I will go there. I never asked Jagan not to come. If people do not want him here, they might not allow.” So it is the common people who should be allowed to decide whether to come out on streets to greet Jagan or not. If they do not care for him, they may not flock to him in this scorching Sun. Then TRS can canvass that Jagan and by derivation integrationists may have takers in Khammam district, but not in Warangal district. KCR was confident of himself and prepared to allow a litmus test to Jagan’s popularity in Warangal district.
But his fellow-travelers were not that confident. They were afraid Jagan might prove as popular in Warangal as in Khammam and this would affect results in by-polls. Even if TRS loses 2/3 seats in by-elections their detractors would jeer at them. TRS leaders told Krishna Committee that mental division already took place and situation in Telengana is such that A-employee and T-employee can not work side-by-side in offices. And that there is no leg for an integrationist to stand upon in T-area.
So they need to prove their theory during Jagan’s visit. In Khammam, they attempted but failed. Barring minor clashes, Jagan’s tour was successful there. If he performs the same feat in Warangal, the hot-bed of T-agitators, media might conclude that the T-struggle is losing its grip in its very cradle. This might provoke Jagan to undertake similar exercise in Karimnagar another breeding-ground of T-agitation. And if he succeeds there too, media might jump to write off the movement forever. (to be concluded)
MBS PRASAD
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