'Political defections in Telugu states alarming'

HYDERABAD: Despite having a regional focus, regional political parties are increasingly moving towards dynastic rule and posing a threat to democratic values enshrined in the constitution, said majority of the speakers who participated in a panel discussion titled 'Role of Regional Parties in India's Changing Scenario' organized by the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) here on Saturday.
Representatives from national and regional parties expressed serious concern over the deteriorating tolerance in governance, especially in the states governed by regional parties. Citing rampant political defections in both the Telugu states, Telangana Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed the need for a strict enforcement of the anti-defection law.
"Ruling parties in the both Telugu states have been encouraging defections. Never in the history has a legislator who was elected on an opposition party's ticket been made a minister, except in Telangana and AP," lamented Uttam.
Countering his views, TDP official spokesperson Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy pointed out that the TDP was the worst victim of political defections. "During PV Narasimha Rao's regime, our party MPs were lured by the Congress and, now, the TRS has taken away two thirds of our MLAs," said Ravula.
BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said many regional parties moved away from the 'nationalist' agenda. "The people have started to realise the shallowness of the 'majority' and 'minority' arguments and are now viewing themselves as Indians." "For over six decades, the Congress has encouraged divisive politics," said Krishna Sagar Rao.
Contesting argument, TRS MP Konda Visweswara Reddy said statistics say a different story. "If you read the development statistics of the country, southern states which have been under regional parties for decades have progressed as compared to the states in the north.
CPI's Azia Pasha expressed concern over the increasing 'intolerance' under the NDA rule. Senior journalist Kingshuk Nag moderated the panel discussion.