(RATHNA KUMAR M.D.)
Since the honeymoon period is over for the Andhra Pradesh government formed two and half year ago by the alliance containing three political parties headed by Chandrababu Naidu, a credibility test waiting for the government in the form of local bodies’ elections. A feel of fervor and gaiety is camouflaging over the cadres of political parties as it is going to witness the direct participation of gross root level workers of different parties. The cadres had to work hard for the victory of leaders at constituency level in the general elections, of course for the benefit of their respective parties. Now those cadres of different political parties particularly principal political players of Andhra Pradesh will have to work for their own political elevation in the name of party’ success that too with the patronage of Legislators and other important leaders of their parties.
Now these elections may be the Litmus test for the ruling alliance on whether it is still enjoying people’s support after registering a resounding victory by bagging 164 seats out of 175 in the AP Legislative Assembly. YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) which ruled the state for five years (2019-24) had to lose power to the alliance and managed to get only 11seats that number (less than 10% of total seats) couldn’t get even Opposition status for the party in Assembly. In fact, YSRCP has been struggling to get the lost fame & glory and waiting for an opportunity to take on ruling alliance. No major issue has been picked up by the party to corner the ruling alliance in the public domain. First the party approached the High Court of AP for getting the status of principal opposition irrespective of numbers. YSRCP has shifted its focus and decided to go to the people with public issues which have not worked out much.
Elections for local bodies are going to be held soon as Supreme Court of India has rejected increased quota for Backward Classes in local bodies. It is highlighted for the political upliftment of BCs, but such proposal couldn’t get approval from the Apex Court. Then the chief minister of AP Chandrababu Naidu announced that despite failing to get the nod from the Supreme Court, his party Telugu Desam Party (TDP) would ensure the same quota (34%). At the same time, he accused YSRCP of putting hurdles for local bodies’ polls in name of enhancement of quota for BCs. Then the issue of providing quota for BCs without reservation, which means giving tickets to BCs in local bodies even in the absence of the needful legislation. TDP came forward for that which may be honoured by its rival YSRCP. Actually, chief minister and TDP president Chandrababu Naidu has tried his level best for political upmanship over YSRCP in this issue. Then one question arises that where the need is to approach court for the enhancement of quota for BCs particularly when the political parties came forward to give seats to BCs in the absence of legislation. Persons with proper awareness in general public asks whether those political parties do the same in case of Assembly & Loksabha seats! It would lead to a total political transformation if all the political parties ready to come forward to give Assembly and Loksabha seats to the Backward Classes without legislation. Since all the parties participating in electoral politics are headed by the leaders of upper castes, it’s a situation prevailed without hopes of such transformation take place in the political society as the caste equations wouldn’t permit the leadership of those parties to move further even if they soberly wished to do the same.
Now the issue of credibility test is being faced by the ruling alliance as it completed half period of its tenure given by the people. The state will be witnessing whether the ruling alliance is still carrying credibility in the public domain as its rule has influenced millions in many ways. The ruling alliance comprising TDP, Jana Sena Party (JSP) and BJP have been concentrating on united fight against the opposition YSRCP. Ruling alliance is mainly relying on its welfare measures, irrigation facilities that includes realising the dream of Veligonda project that took three decades of time for completion, maximum utilisation of Patti Seema and Purushottama patnam Lift schemes. As the situation prevailed due to the result of El Nino effect that drawn resentment from farming community over the meagre water supply to the vast tracks of paddy fields spread across the state. In fact, there no proper allocation or release of water for irrigation purpose as the present reserves of water is meant only for drinking purpose in the backdrop of increasing temperatures that makes people feel the continuation summer heat.
Irrespective of all odds, the ruling alliance is boasting that the prompt disbursement of community pensions to the lakhs of needy and poor would serve its purpose. Large chunk of voters is getting satisfaction with receiving their pensions at the Dawn on the first day of every month. Chief minister Chandrababu cautiously involving all the Legislators including himself in the disbursement programme of pensions. Earlier government headed by YS Jaganmohan Reddy created a new system of volunteers selected by his party cadres and allotted the disbursement of pensions to that new system that distanced the public representatives from their electors. This has widened the gap between the Legislators and the voters. Probably this unwanted development led to the defeat of numerous Legislators of YSRCP. After taking reigns from YSRCP, Chandrababu Naidu has kept the Volunteer system aside and entrusted the job of disbursement of pensions to the staff of village secretariats. YSRCP expected that the disbursement of pensions would be affected badly in the absence of volunteer’s system. But ruling alliance cautiously managed the situation by bringing it under control.
The two things of Ecstasy and Alacrity are waiting to embrace the ‘suitable& deserved’ one among the principal political rivals in the arena of local bodies’ polls. If the ruling alliance proved that it’s having credibility in the minds of people, then blissful moments will go to the alliance. In case of opposition YSRCP managed to present a different picture that people are unhappy with way of administration on part of ruling alliance, that development may be the breather for it to prepare itself to take on the ruling alliance with much will and vigour in 2029.
Now the possible differences between cadres of TDP and JSP are being highlighted everywhere ahead of local bodies’ polls. It is true that there are differences at field level, but the top leadership of both parties is believed to be in perfect understanding. They have to fight unitedly due to the fear of YSRCP that may take advantage out of those differences in the ruling alliance. The forthcoming polls for local bodies in Andhra Pradesh will reflect the mood of people over the performance of ruling alliance on all aspects and decide future course of politics in the second half of the tenure of the government before the next general elections.
(Author is a senior journalist based at Hyderabad)
(Courtesy: The Pioneer)