Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy sounded the bugle for a war, if necessary, with the Congress High Command and the UPA Government on the contentious decision of bifurcating the state much against the will of the people of one region.
The subtle but calculated outburst of the Chief Minister came at a function on Thursday cautioning the powers that be in the Congress as well as the Central Government that any decision taken against the wishes of people would only boomerang, as was witnessed in the past when the people have dumped the party and government for
their anti-people decisions.
It was obvious that Kiran Kumar Reddy gave vent to his anger and anguish over the decision of the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, though he had not directly blamed or named her, to bifurcate the state to pave way for a separate Telangana state and thus utilize it as a spring board for Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as Prime Minister by expecting more seats for the party in the new state in the coming elections
There is no denial of the fact that the Chief Minister was against the bifurcation of the state and had made it known to his close confidants that he would not like to earn the dubious distinction of being the Chief Minister when the state was being divided. He had also made his view clear to the central leaders many a times on the issue.When there was a spontaneous upsurge in the Seemandhra region against bifurcation, the Chief Minister made a last minute effort even before the A.K. Antony Committee to prevent the division of the state. And of course his pro-united stand has been construed as anti-Telangana and his own cabinet colleagues from the Telangana region not only distanced themselves from him but also accused him of instigating the agitation in the Seemandhra region.
COMPLAINT AGAINST C M
As a matter of fact a delegation of Congress leaders from Telangana region including ministers and legislators had even complained against the Chief Minister to the central party leaders including AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh. What has come as a big surprise to both the central and state congress leaders was that the Chief Minister’s outburst and defiant mood on the bifurcation issue came just a few days after Digvijay Singh confidently said that Kiran Kumar Reddy would fall in line and abide by the decision of the CWC.
The Chief Minister’s warning has not only surprised and shocked the Congress High Command and other central leaders, but has also pushed them into a predicament since the Kiran Kumar Reddy’s open defiance is bound to give the needed boost and impetus to the people of the Seemandhra region who have been agitating for the past 31 days to take forward the movement with more vigor and enthusiasm.
The Telangana Congress leaders, especially the ministers and MPs, who have been trying for the scalp of the Chief Minister, have already started making plans for his “ouster”. In fact recently the Telangana ministers and MPs had even demanded with the central party leaders to either rein in the Chief Minister or if need be, even impose President’s Rule in the state.
Now it looks like a caught between the devil and deep sea situation for the Congress High Command. Replacing the Chief Minister might satiate the appetite of Kiran baiters in Telangana region, but it would not help in a way soothe the ruffled sentiments of the people of the Seemandhra. In fact ousting the Chief Minister might only make him a martyr for the cause of a united state and make him the newfound Gladiator of the integrationists to lead them in their struggle. Thus the big question weighing on the minds of the central party leaders is whether to use the axe or not against the Chief Minister.Even if the Congress High Command intends to send a strong message to the party leKiran Kumar Reddy, it is also fully aware that it is not an easy task to find a suitable eplacement who as an interim Chief Minister would have the ability and skill to lead the party till the coming elections.
Informed sources also disclosed that Kiran Kumar Reddy’s open defiance on the bifurcation issue has also forced the Union Ministers and MPs from the Seemandhra region to ponder over their future course of action, especially at a time when pressure was being built up by the people and the striking employees for their resignations. In fact as many as six out of the nine union ministers from the Seemandhra region are understood to have decided to quit along with eight other MPs and join the people’s movement in the region.
Thus Kiran Kumar Reddy with his subtle warning on the bifurcation issue has stirred the hornet’s nest. Will the Chief Minister’s open defiance become the spanner in the T wheel and in such an event it might rekindle another movement in the Telangana region? However if the High Command sticks to its decision on the T issue and goes ahead with its road map, then the movement in the Seemandhra region might take a serious turn and lead to break down of law and order. A clear indication that emerges from all these aspects is that the Congress seems to have dug its own grave in the state. !!! (NSS)