According to sources, the ground reports that the TRS supremo is getting is pointing to consolidation of the Congress. "Despite the sudden showering of sops to various communities and groups in the last few weeks, KCR's apprehension is that if elections are held as per schedule in April-May 2019, the Congress could galvanise itself to put up a better show and make it that much more a difficult fight for the pink party. KCR probably doesn't want to give an iota of a chance for the Congress to gain in the state, even if marginally. Thus he prefers assembly polls in December itself giving an edge to the TRS," said party sources.
Also, a theory put forth by some analysts suggested that KCR might be thinking in terms of some alliance or strategy for Parliamentary polls differently from the Assembly polls, so TRS gets to gain more seats in the Lok Sabha elections. For example, if TRS decides to galvanise a Federal Front he has been talking about, it would be easier for him to do so if Parliamentary elections are held separately. While Congress is his principal opposition in Telangana, leaders of other regional parties like Mamata Banerjee and M K Stalin, are pushing KCR to come on board in an alliance which will include the Congress.
'Failed promises, Cong’s rise making KCR seek early poll'
On the other hand if KCR decides to pull his weight with the BJP, he might as well go the full hog in the Lok Sabha polls and probably bargain a better deal in an NDA formation. Some opposition leaders are surprised about KCR’s sudden change in tactic after advocating simultaneous polls. Modi has been seen as pitching for simultaneous polls as a strategy to cut down anti-incumbency.
Speaking to TOI, Telangana Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “Anti-incumbency and the Congress consolidation is what is making KCR seek early polls. “Farmers suicides, no fee reimbursement, farmers not getting MSP, Self Help Groups being ignored and presence of 16 lakh unemployed youth in the state are working against the TRS government. On the other hand, the Congress has never been as organisationally prepared as now. For each of the 31,656 booths in the state, we have appointed a 14-member committee. Thus we have four and half people working for us on the ground and relating to the people’s issues. Therefore, KCR knows that the TRS does not stand a chance in case the elections are held in normal course. Hence, his desperation to go for early polls.”
Mohammed Shabbir Ali, leader of opposition in legislative council, says the writing is on the wall as far as KCR is concerned. “The tide is turning against the TRS and in favour of the Congress. This is because all the promises made by the TRS government have fallen flat. KCR had promised to construct 2.61 lakh two bedroom houses, but till date, only 11,000 are ready and another 25,000 are in the making. Things are equally bad on the unemployment front. Last week, a private firm held a job mela at Kamareddy but for the 600 jobs that were on offer, 22,000 youth turned up, indicating how things are. Similarly, on the water front, five districts are not in such good shape. There is no water in Singur, Nizamsagar and many other places. And things will turn worse by the time elections are held in normal course in April-May next year with the possibility of a shift tide in favour of the Congress. KCR knows that and hence wants to advance the polls.”
According to sources, the MIM, which has declared itself as an ally of the TRS, too wants early polls. “MIM is of the view that the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA is waning and it may not augur well for the TRS-MIM to go for the assembly polls along with the general elections. Therefore, the MIM too is pressuring KCR to go for early polls,” they added.
The second factor that is at play in KCR seeking early polls could be related to his belief in astrology. “It appears that he has been told by his pundits that 2019 will be bad electorally for the TRS and hence the polls should be held by December 2018,” said the sources. When asked about it, astrologers could not confirm it. “Political fortunes of a person can be predicted only based on their birth chart and planetary positions such as Saturn and Jupiter. KCR’s winning chances in the elections can be assessed only after going through his birth chart,” said B Madhusudhan Siddanthi, a city based astrologer.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/2PikzG7
