Now that KCR has won Karimnagar, it is natural that YSR plays his trump card/s. As Sushma Swaraj awaits the Presidential assent for her private members bill on the separate state, political jockeying in the state has begun in the right earnest. The first move by YSR has been cast - to persuade Majlis-ettehadul-Muselmeen not accept the statehood for Telangana with Hyderabad as the capital.
Assauddin Owaissi made the noises to this effect about three months ago, when he said that he would never allow Cheddiwalas to rule in Telangana. His fear is understandable, in that the BJP will wrest a tie up with TRS in return for the private member’s bill passage in Parliament. And the new state will see a Karnataka like tie-up with BJP arm-twisting KCR to part with crucial ministries including the crucial one, home portfolio.
The Congress on the other hand will play along with Majlis, demanding that Hyderabad should become a union territory within the state of Telangana. For KCR, the new state without the capital is like an emperor without a crown. For BJP, the twin cities is their backyard and they want to wrest back Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat and get some Assembly segments like Maharajgunj, Malakpet and Karwan as well. That would mean making a substantial dent in the Topiwala territory.
Losing Hyderabad for TRS will be like trading off one of its crown jewels. All that KCR will have in terms of cash cow will be Singareni Collieries. Hyderabad accounts for a substantial portion of the state’s sales and excise collections and without it KCR’s Telangana will be broke before it begins.
YSR made the first move when in a unscheduled visit, announced a Rs 800-crore underground sewerage project for the Old City. In tow with Assauddin Owaissi he announced a slew of projects many of which are old wine in a new bottle. The fate of the Quli Qutub Shah Development Authority, which was floated during NTR’s regime is still fresh in the minds of the people of the Old City. YSR is said to have put district minister in charge, Shabbir Ali to take the process forward.
With the State High Court all set to clear the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, the outer fringes of Hyderabad will stretch all the way till Medak, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar. That’s almost the size of Himachal Pradesh. YSR’s hurry in getting GHMC is understandable, for with it he gets to kill two birds with one stone. Assauddin Owaissi and Janardhan Reddy, two of the vociferous opponents will be forced to accept the concept of Greater Hyderabad. And KCR will be left with a hole in the Telangana map.
The (BJP) private member’s bill can only be passed in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha with Congress support, as the Communists are likely to walk out or vote against the bill. Pushed to wall, KCR may have no choice but to accept the obvious. What the BJP does in that scenario will be interesting to watch. Will it go along and accept Hyderabad as a UT? Or will the BJP stick with TRS and let the bill fail in both the houses. The second step will mean an uncertain wait while the first will be a half-baked cake.
In the tussle for Telangana, the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad will be the key, which holds the riches to Aladdin’s cave.
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13 comments:
Hi Vikram, Nice article. But what if Congress party under Sonia Gandhi feels it beneficial (to the party) to give separate Telangana without giving much importance to Owaisi and gang. How much influence do you think Rajasekhar Reddy will have on the party's central leadership in convincing to keep Andhra pradesh United.
Best piece that I have read on the subject. Sad that we no more get such stuff in our papers.
Telangana could not be achieved when the struggle was at its peak in the late 60s and early 70s. It is a waste to discuss the whims and fancies of a few individuals, who do not even account for 10 percent of the 'separatist population'.
Remember Vikram you are in a glass house. Still you chose to throw stones at others. Now, read your first para. Do you know majlis ittehadul muslimeen is MIM. Why did you write it as ETTAHADUL? Do you the party's star MP's name is Asaduddin Owaisi. Why did you write it as Assaudin Owaissi? Shame on you. You found fault with others and you have failed in getting your facts right?
My dear anonymous friend,
Shame on you. Neither did you get it right (MIM). You would make a poor sub-editor/reporter.
I find it amusing that someone picks on a spelling, rather than debating on the issue.
Knowing MIM and its previous avtaar, the Razakars, the logical step Owaisi & Co pvt ltd would be to keep Hyderabad as an Union territory. That way the Owaisi family can expolit the poor muslims of the old city and get their votes. So much for the 'star' MP.
Stars are in the sky, and your MP Owaisi in on the ground. Remember that.
I think the issue should be whether or not politics and their discussions should be taken to their totality in a blog discussing media.
We as journalists tend to forget that and keep on talking till someone asks us to shut up.
anyway lets forget picking holes in a pretty interesting analysis.
it would be good if all the `analysts' in the media contribute to a better understanding of the realpolitik of telangana.
trying to pick on mistakes like spellings is a little too pathetic for a grown up.
go on grow up critic/ chamcha/.... whatever u call urself
I like that hole in the Telengana map. I just was dreaming up how KCRs face will look as he and Narendra hold up a poster which has a big hole in it. Poor guys.
YSR and MIM is set to spoil their T party.
Forget spelling error etc..this piece is an example of some top quality journalism at work..keep it up.
MR
I am often surprised when Congress leaders from the state parrot the line that 'Sonia Gandhi will take a decision on Telengana'.
How can one individual decide on the fortunes of a state ? Are we a Banana republic ? How can one person who does not even hold a constitutional post decide about whether to have Telengana or not ?
This is a democracy and every citizen has a say. Not just Sonia Gandhi. She cannot decide for us. It's the people of the state of Andhra Pradesh who will decide.
whoever is that anonymous person who wants to gain sadistic pleasure in seeing a hole in the Telangana map, he certainly doesn't know the history. hyderabad was, has been and will be part of Telangana, notwithstanding the tall claims of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (am I correct?). The demand for Telangana has already crossed the barriers of caste, religion and local issues, as was proved in Karimnagar elections. If given a chance, it will be proved in every other election in Telangana, provided the elections are fought on the single issue of separate Statehood. Forget TRS and its maverick president KCR. The issue is not confined just to a single person. KCR is only a political instrument and nothing more than that. He is not whole and sole of Telangana. Even if KCR is not there, the issue continues to rage.
Why did you make KCR the 'sole'. It should be 'soul' and your original word changes the entire tack and meaning of the sentence.
Tweak your history, nothing called Telengana existed in physical format till now. What was there was Hyderabad state under the Nizams's rule. It stretched from Aurangabad to Gulbarga and on to Khammam. And to top it all Kurnool was the capital of Andhra.
I am not an MIM supporter. But I think, culturally and ethinically Hyderabad is a mosaic of cultures and should take the Union Territory route.
Guys and Gals, drool on this - being an union terriroty comes with its own advantages. Petrol will be cheaper. So will be booze. So drink, drive and got to hell.
I like that hole in the Telengana map. I just was dreaming up how KCRs face will look as he and Narendra hold up a poster which has a big hole in it. Poor guys.
YSR and MIM is set to spoil their T party.
Leaders are born out of movements and its not the other way around. YSRs, Babus must not dream about stopping the juggernaut, lets term it "inevitable". With or with out hyderabad will never arise, i dont know about ossified heads.
Those idiots( it befits them, i cant stoop more than this, even for these guys!), who are talking about UT, should buy some history books -- one they will know about telanagana, two they will know what movements can do.
Another important thing
look at this what does it mean? ( i dont have any doubt author has got no knowledge or no brain, either way it makes same sense)
Tweak your history, nothing called Telengana existed in physical format till now. What was there was Hyderabad state under the Nizams's rule. It stretched from Aurangabad to Gulbarga and on to Khammam. And to top it all Kurnool was the capital of Andhra.
Come on, grow up, try to write some thing coherent. this is not P3 man, err.. bachcha. Use it as a professional forum, but not to express ur whims and fancies. Grow up kids. Gotcha!
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