Ticket distribution is in air. Normally this is turbulent time for all the parties but for Congress it always used to be tempestuous. The disappointed aspirants burn a chair or two in Gandhi Bhawan. Motives attributed. Statements thrown back and forth.
TDP, though equally big, was never making as much news in this respect. Even when TDP struck alliance with other parties ranging from BJP to Communists, the squabbles, if any were not coming out in open.
Times have changed. Ever since he formed Grand Alliance, Babu is showing utmost care to see that their differences do not become a matter of public knowledge. But his partners do not appear to show similar tact. They are talking to press freely, probably as a pressure tactic against TDP, the lead player.
Initially, Babu did not seem to be interested in bringing in TRS into GA. But the Leftist parties prevailed upon him to strike a deal with KCR. When Babu worked out a formula with KCR following a hard bargaining, they have come forth with their long list of demands. This has been the case with the left since long. They always overestimate their strength.
They take up some or other agitation every six months but do not bring it to its logical end. And, God knows why, they imagine that their strength has gone up by leaps and bounds though their cadre does not swell!
When NTR arrived on political scene in 1983 the left refused to join hands with him. They said they have already built up a wave (!?) against Congress government and NTR is trying to hijack it. Old leaders have gone and new leaders have come but the mindset did not change. Even the present leaders claim that their strength has gone up during 2004-09 due to their innovative (?) agitations. They cannot quote a single bye-election where their votes have gone up. Still they claim 6 parliamentary seats. They know that their strength in Bengal and Kerala is going to be depleted and eager to make it up to the extent possible in AP.
Leftists are at least politicians but KCR is not even that. He acts by his impulses and you do not need enemies if you such a friend. He is not bound by any discipline and can shoot off his mouth anytime anywhere. Recently he said Babu was the reason for escalating cost of election expenditure. He insists that all the coalition parties toe his Telengana line. If such is the case, they could have as well joined his party! Isn’t it?
As if the confusion is not enough, Manda Krishna is inviting himself into GA. He has already decided how many assembly and parliament seats he is going allot himself.
Forget his party, he could not win the even the assembly seat he contested. But now he demands 4 MP seats apart from 30 assembly seats. He took a leaf from Left’s book and says they grew in strength meanwhile. Can anyone grow by causing to kill a party worker or two? What is the yardstick? KCR is actively canvassing his inclusion in the GA. After all, TRS is not the loser. If there is any benefit of Madiga vote bank, TRS too might gain and whatever Manda demands would be at the cost of TDP but not TRS!
One may pity the plight of Babu as the team leader but look at the brighter side. Even before elections, Babu is gaining experience of running a shaky coalition government. And these days of coalitions at Center, this is not a small qualification.
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