The man largely responsible for keeping alive the demand for special category status to Andhra Pradesh, one of the brains behind the recent no-confidence motion against the Modi government, and the person who undoubtedly hastened the exit of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu from the NDA camp, ought to be happy. Everything went as per script. Special status is now high on the agenda of all parties, Andhra’s concerns were debated, if not in the Lok Sabha, at least in the Rajya Sabha, and the TDP is out of the NDA.
Yet, YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy appears exasperated at the turn of events and losing the plot. He dropped two bombshells in less than a week, leaving his supporters stunned and opponents in raptures. Having made the tactical mistake of directing his MPs to quit much before the debate on Andhra, indirectly handing the TDP yet another chance to claim to be the sole champions of the state in Parliament, the YSRC leader tried to wrest back the initiative by calling for a statewide bandh on July 24. It evoked partial response.
The same evening at a press conference, Jagan, in reply to a query, charged Jana Sena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan with polygamy — a below the belt personal attack that prompted even TDP leaders to condemn. And, on Saturday, Jagan compounded the issue by refusing to endorse the long-standing demand of the Kapu community for reservations. Though some see a pattern, it could well be a case of Jagan being Jagan.
The attack on Pawan, a Kapu leader, came on the day the actor embarked on his tour of the Godavari districts — a stronghold of Kapus, the numerically strong community expected to be the kingmakers in 2019. It was a classic I-don’t-care nonchalant Jagan, who is also incidentally touring the Godavari districts, undermining Pawan.
His refusal to endorse quota for Kapus is consistent with his stand of not making promises he cannot keep. He did the same in 2014 when he refused to announce crop loan waiver terming it impractical. He sticks by his policy even now. But, his supporters are worried.
His ‘implosion’, as some YSRC leaders see it, could anger Kapu voters who are otherwise likely to vote for him to throw the TDP out of power.
TDP leaders hope Jagan, who has been on a padayatra across the State, will score a few more self-goals and believe that the debate in Parliament and Chandrababu Naidu’s ongoing ‘Dharma Porata Deeksha’ have put the party on a firmer footing vis-a-vis Jagan. Interestingly, Naidu has been making positive statements on the Congress in the last few weeks. The buzz in the capital is about a possible tacit understanding with the grand old party in exchange for a few seats in Telangana.
Seen as the original sinner, the Congress is also the sworn enemy of the TDP right from the latter’s inception. A U-turn of that magnitude would be worthwhile only if the rewards are surely more than just a few seats in Telangana.
Naidu is looking at the big picture, eyeing a national role — which depends on the number of MP seats he wins — while cosying up to the Congress. He could even be angling for the top job. Even otherwise, Naidu would need strong backing from the Centre, more so if he retains power in the State. The reason ironically is the special status issue.
Even a rudimentary understanding of the special status promised to AP by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh, reiterated by him eloquently with brevity in the Rajya Sabha recently just in case the State forgot, makes it clear that the special package announced by the Centre — if implemented in letter and spirit — brings the State more funds and projects. Singh promised special status only in the case of Central schemes, not including industrial incentives! It means the state would stand to get just about `17,500 crore over a five-year period. No one knows this better than Naidu himself.
Though he has been insisting on inclusion of industrial incentives for some time now, it is unlikely anybody beyond the state borders would support such a demand. It is a tragedy that none of the parties are debating the state’s future and are instead, clamouring for special status without exactly spelling out what it actually means. And it is the greatest of ironies that the BJP, which has the best orator in Parliament, is unable to articulate what its government has announced.
Kalyan Chakravarthi
Deputy Resident Editor, Andhra Pradesh
Email: chakravarthy@newindianexpress.com