Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s aggressive stand taken against the RTC employees’ unions is likely to cause serious impact on his party’s election prospects in 2019.
Though it is not uncommon for the governments to reject the RTC workers’ demands and speak in a non-negotiable tone, they used to come down subsequently and concede at least part of their demands after a few days of strike. But for the first time, KCR spoke in a threatening tone on the RTC workers’ strike.
He warned that he would not hesitate to close down the RTC and hand it over to the private parties, if the workers don’t withdraw their strike. He said they would lose their jobs if they participate in the strike.
“If you take up strike, it will be your last one. Next time, there will be no RTC and you will not be on rolls to take up the strike,” KCR said.
KCR advised the employees' unions to understand the intention of the state government and inform their decision to the RTC management.
The RTC workers are firm on going ahead with the strike thinking that KCR himself would come down for negotiations. They are planning to stop the running of the buses all over the state with effect from midnight of June 10.
Those who know KCR say that he is not like other chief ministers who succumbed to the pressures of the strikes.
“He is so obstinate that he doesn’t even hesitate to close down the RTC on the pretext of losses,” a TRS leader said.
But it would be a calculated risk for KCR if he goes ahead with his aggressive moves. Already, there is anti-establishment wave sweeping across the state as an undercurrent and if the RTC workers are sacked, it would lead to massive unrest among not only employees, but also common people.
“It might be counter-productive for KCR in the coming days. Hope he will not take it up as a prestige issue but will resolve the issue amicably,” a Union leader said.
