There is virtually no opposition to KCR in Telangana at the moment. Using the carrot and stick approach, he has won over the media to his side as well.
Eenadu and Andhra Jyothi are virtually acting as a mouthpiece for the TRS. Revanth Reddy, a bitter critic of KCR lost sting after being caught in the Stephenson case.
The lack of a charismatic leader from the opposition parties has put KCR in an impregnable position. Is that about to change? Is KCR about to face his first real test from a former ally?
Apparently, the Telangana JAC led by Professor Kodandaram is all set to launch a political party. The decision was taken at a top secret meeting at a farm house in Keesara attended by the JAC heads of all the ten districts.
The meeting went on for 6 hours and members even kept their phones switched off. Further details would be revealed soon by the JAC.
During the T-agitation, Kodandaram stood head to head with KCR and commanded equal space with KCR in the media.
At one stage, so powerful was Kodandaram that he successfully held the Sakala Janula Samme without any support from the TRS.
Kodandaram was the key factor in roping the students into the T-agitation. But, after Telangana became a reality, confusion on the part of Kodandaram as to what role he should play in the new State led to KCR effectively sidelining him.
Two years after Telangana was formed, Kodandaram finally broke his silence and spoke out against KCR’s administration saying it was anti-people. Since then, he has been regularly castigating the TRS especially over the Mallanna Sagar issue.
Now, if Kodandaram floats a political party, does he have the charisma to take KCR on and inspire the people to follow him? He did it during the T-agitation but KCR is now more invincible than ever.
Students and farmers would definitely back Kodandaram! Would that be enough? How will a new party affect the political equations in Telangana?
