Reddy power cauldron churns

HYDERABAD:Few months after the TRS came to power in Telangana, top members of the

Reddy

community cutting across various fields met at a secret rendezvous in far away Khammam district and the sole purpose of the meeting was to plot ways and means to come back to power in the state in the quickest possible manner.

That meeting highlighted the caste dynamics in Telangana, wherein the Reddy community had held power for the longest period of time and for the first time, faced political wilderness after the crushing defeat in the 2014 elections. Now, in the run-up to the 2019 elections, efforts are being made to forge a Reddy front cutting across party lines even as the other two forward castes having political state, the Velemas and Kammas, are devising their own strategy as to how to thwart the efforts of the Reddy community and retain power.

It was in this background that TTDP leader Revanth Reddy had, a few weeks ago, stoked a campaign for the opposition parties to come together and take on the TRS in the next elections.

A good beginning was made when the TDP, Congress and Left parties came together and fought the TRS-backed trade union in the recent Singareni Collieries elections. However, the chances of an opposition unity has received a big setback with reports of Revanth Reddy quitting the TDP and joining the Congress. Revanth may himself benefit by securing a good position in the Congress and perhaps being able to secure a few tickets for his followers. But, the move has already stoked unhappiness both in the Congress and TTDP.

The TTDP was already in turmoil and the recent development has only worsened matters for its president Chandrababu Naidu. While a section wants the party to align with the Congress, another group is for striking an alliance with the TRS. Naidu has brokered a peace for the time being, but Revanth’s reported exit has complicated issues. Either way, the TDP finds itself in no man’s land in Telangana, which is why it appears that Revanth has decided to abandon it.

Eventually, Telangana Congress leaders will be forced to fall in line and welcome Revanth when he enters the party fold. But it remains to be seen how much his entry would improve the prospects of the Congress in the next polls.

Most political pundits are of the view that save Mahbubnagar to a certain extent, Revanth would not be able to contribute much to the Congress kitty. But Revanth’s move is slated to hit the TTDP the hardest. On Friday, the TTDP held its politburo meet to which Revanth made an entry, spoke of the issues on which the party should target TRS in the ensuing assembly session and walked out.

After the meeting, TDP spokesperson Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy told the media that the issue of Revanth’s departure from the party was not discussed. It sure would be an issue that could well signal the end of TDP in Telangana and therefore, something that needs to be addressed by Naidu no sooner he returns

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