HYDERABAD: BJP president Amit Shah and AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh, when they visited Hyderabad recently, had more or less the same road-map for the their respective Telangana units: capture power in 2019 by building the party brick by brick.
They set out short-term and long term goals for their party cadres—The Medak Lok Sabha byelection on September 13 and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections later this year. Amit Shah, in his two day tour of Hyderabad, told the party workers to establish a rural connect and do their homework diligently to win the hearts of people instead of simply wishing for power in the next elections. He also conveyed a message, albeit indirectly that the party should be able to grow independent of its present ally Telugu Desam Party.
On the other hand Congress honcho Digvijaya Singh, at the two-day brain storming session in Hyderabad, urged the leaders to work for retrieval of lost ground. He asked them to take responsibility to ensure win for party nominee V Sunitha Lakshma Reddy during the byelection and also capture power in the GHMC. He suggested the party to support the interest of the significant number of people of Seemandhra settled in Hyderabad. At present the morale of the Congress is at its lowest ebb. During the Digvijaya meet, there was rancour, with party workers heaping abuses on the state leadership of Ponnala Lakshmaiah and how they were ignored in the run-up to the recent elections. Noisy scenes were witnessed and Digvijaya had to suspend a few of the party workers.
That it was in an unenviable position was clear from the fact that the it had difficulty in finding a candidate for the Medak seat. No one was interested as there are bleak chances of winning. After a lot of persuasion former minister Sunitha Lakshma Reddy agreed, but put forth a condition that the entire campaigning expenses have to be borne by the party. The party leaders are not very gung ho about campaigning and it looks the party is preparing to fight for second position.
For BJP, it is a different ball game altogether. From a mere three MLAs in last assembly, the number went up to five. The party wants to consolidate further by adopting a two pronged strategy—attacking the TRS government on its policies and polarising Hindus by targeting MIM.
Congress loss of Telangnaa
The Congress had a great advantage because it had delivered Telangana state. Yet they lost out to KCR. With the Congress’ track record of ensuring development not very satisfactory, it appears the people did not want to trust it with Telangana. They wanted a Telangana party and they wanted an able leader. They seem to have found them in TRS and KCR. Then KCR addressed as many as 300 meetings during election campaign and the Congress leaders never bothered about a coordinated approach. KCR succeeded in explaining to people that Congress delivered Telangana out of political compulsion rather than out of any love for the people. Congress leaders confined themselves to their constituencies and there was no one leader who could be described as face of the party in the state, so much so then union minister Jairam Ramesh had to campaign. ]
Amit Shah’S Fillip
BJP president Amit Shaha, who was in Hyderabad for two days, told the cadres to first work hard then desire that the party should come to power in 2019. He asked the leaders to be an effective Opposition first by taking up people’s issues and visiting rural areas to connect with them. Since the party is in power at the Centre, he indirectly pointed that friendship with the TDP would be at BJP’s terms since the TDP needed the support of BJP for development of AP more than BJP needing the TDP. He wanted a strong organisational structure and make every attempt to grow independent.
Digvijaya does damage control
The Congress haven’t found its act together till now. AICC general secretary Digivjaya Singh tried doing some damage control. He urged party workers to take Medak Lok Sabha byelection and the GHMC elections seriously and ensure party’s victory. As long term measure, he wanted them to fight on the policies of the state government and be on the side the people all the time. With an eye on the elections to GHMC, he told to woo the large segment of Seemandhra people settled in Hyderabad.