Aam Aadmi Party of Andhra Pradesh here on Saturday declared a war against “dynastic politics” in the State and released a list of families that were dominating AP politics.
Addressing a public meeting here, AAP leaders said these power hungry families spread across all the 23 districts of A.P. There is no wonder that no other political party was talking about this because the top leaders in all the major parties in the State are practicing dynastic politics, such as the Naidu and Nandamuri families in the TDP, KCR family in TRS, Botcha, Anam and other families in Congress, YSR family in YSRCP and the Owaisi family in MIM.
The list released by AAP has 20 families in coastal Andhra, nine families in Rayalaseema and 27 families in Telangana. “We have shortlisted the most controlling families, so the list doesn’t include many political families which have lesser influence. The AAP leaders spoke about several dimensions of dynastic politics. Firstly, the control of political families is implemented through money, crime and goondaism in many districts, so much so that for a new entrant to even hold a political rally is considered a risk to personal safety in many areas.
Secondly, the operation of these political families is a continuation of the feudal system with each family lording over their jagirs, not allowing newcomers to challenge their power, and passing on their jagirs to their families. A look at the list shows the domination of a few castes of feudal lords – especially Reddy and Kamma. AAP considers this as an assault on the very idea of democratic political system.
Thirdly, dynastic politics is intertwined with building family-run business empires, looting public wealth. The political families have huge businesses running into thousands of crores, so their main political goal is to protect their business interests. Most political families own infrastructure companies such as Transtroy (Rayapati), Progressive (Kavuri), Lanco (Lagadapati), Gayathri Constructions (Subbi Rami Reddy), KMC Constructions (Mekapati), Sushi Hitech (Komatireddy). Many of them are also liquor contractors. Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy tops them all by setting up several large companies (Bharti Cements, Sandur Power, Saraswati Power, Sakshi media, etc).
Fourthly, AAP highlighted how many of these political families jump from one party to another opportunistically. Many examples are evident from the released lists – Dadi family from TDP to YCP, Thota family from Congress to TDP to YCP, Daggubati family from TDP to Congress to BJP, Bhuma family from TDP to YCP, etc. So, these political families hold sway over power in their regions without regard to a particular political party, its ideology or its policies towards the people.
Aam Aadmi Party appeals to all the citizens of Andhra Pradesh to realize that we cannot use our vote every 5 years to put one of these families into power. AAP appeals to the people to vote for a true alternative, to honest Aam Aadmi candidates who are entering politics to do public service. (NSS)