Muslim leaders support Telangana statehood

By M H Ahssan

Muslim intellectuals disagree that a separate state of Telangana will pose problems to the community. They say MIM's opposition is politically motivated.

Are Muslims fearful for their safety in a separate state of Telangana which comprises a major portion of the former Hyderabad state? If the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) is to be believed, the life and security of the 48 lakh Muslims in the region would be at stake in a smaller state since BJP/ Hindutva forces would get stronger and pose problems to the Muslims.

However, Muslim intellectuals, activists and historians rubbish this claim saying that the MIM represents a small section of the Muslim population, and that its opposition is politically motivated. They allege that the MIM is being propped up as part of a game plan by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy against bifurcation of the state and to sabotage the Telangana cause. Besides, he has encouraged his cohorts in Congress to demand a separate Hyderabad city-state, a separate Rayalaseema state, merging Anantapur district with Karnataka and so on.

The Jamat-e-Islami Hind, a moderate group of Muslims, said it was wrong to say Muslims would be insecure in Telangana state. Those trying to project it as a Hindu-Muslim issue were not sincere in addressing either the problems of Muslims which were many, nor the issue of Telangana which was basically about regional imbalance and injustice. The Telangana Muslim Front, comprising 16 Muslim social organisations at a meeting last week dismissed the Majlis’ claim as propaganda and warned that ‘communalising’ the Telangana issue was a ‘big’ mistake. The meeting recalled the role of 600-years of harmonious co-existence of Hindus and Muslims under the Qutub Shahi and Asaf Jahi rulers and said the communal divide was a recent phenomenon that was deepened by politicians with a vested interest in the votes of the Muslims.


Questioning the legitimacy of Majlis in speaking for the entire Muslims of Telangana, Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, editor of the venerated Siasat, one of the largest circulated and the oldest Urdu daily newspaper from Hyderabad, pointed out that MIM’s hold was limited to four Assembly constituencies in the Old City of Hyderabad. He said, while 90 per cent of the Muslims favoured a separate state, they had some concerns which should be dealt with by the pro-Telangana parties. These included poverty and unemployment which had increased by leap
s and bounds after the Hyderabad state was integrated with the Indian Union in 1948. This was due to discrimination and neglect of Muslims by the state and ruling parties.

Parties like the MIM further exploited the community for votes instead of working for its growth and development. “The (Congress) government is using the MIM to put down Telangana…the MIM sold itself in 1969 (the first major movement for a separate Telangana) to the (then) Brahmananda Reddy government. It is trying to do it again,” said Zaheer. He urged secular Hindus and Muslims of Telangana to dispel the propaganda that the aspirations of Muslims of the region were any different from those of Hindus.

Speakers at the one-day seminar held by the Telangana Muslim Forum cited historical evidence to press home their argument.

The Qutub Shahi rulers generously funded the Bhadrachalam temple of Lord Rama and the Tirumala temple of Lord Venkateshwara. Muslims like Turrebaz Khan in 15th century and Shoebullah Khan in 19th century laid down their lives for their beliefs. Peerla Pandugu is celebrated with such gusto by Hindus that it is difficult to believe that it is an Islamic event. The Communist armed struggle in Telangana was a huge draw for the young, idealistic Muslim youth who jumped into it only to be eliminated along with the others by the Army of an independent India which crushed the movement.

Sajjad Shahed, an engineer and a heritage activist, traced the roots of the current issue to two factors: one, the Razakar police action phase when a reluctant Nizam of Hyderabad was forced to join the Indian Union with the help of the Indian Army; and the silencing of secular Muslim leadership subsequently as it was pushed on the defensive by anti-Muslim riots let loose post-integration to avenge the killing of Hindus by Razakars. Besides, many of them migrated to foreign counties leaving a void that was filled by the communal MIM. “Isolated incidents in history can wipe out the good both prior and subsequent to those incidents,” said Shahed.

Well-known thinker and writer Kancha Ilaiah believes that MIM should realise that Congress gameplan in sabotaging Telangana statehood would harm Muslims in the long run. If Congress does not agree to bifurcation, and should NDA come to power at the Centre, BJP is bound to create the state to strengthen itself in the new state. In that event, MIM will be held responsible for thwarting Telangana.

The consensus among Muslim leaders is that this is the time for the visionaries to assert themselves instead of allowing false emotions and arguments to carry the day.

'No Reference To Modi At Rahul Gandhi's Rally In Telangana'

By Arhaan Faraaz | INNLIVE

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has sought the support of Telangana people for his party in the state and for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the centre to ensure inclusive development in society.

Addressing a mammoth election rally in Mahbubnagar, Rahul made a strong pitch for a prosperous and progressive Telangana with social justice.

“Only Congress will ensure development which will benefit Dalits, farmers, labourers, backwards, women and minorities. It will benefit Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians,” he said.

Will 'Telangana' Gamble Pay Off For The Congress Party?

By Likha Veer | INNLIVE

SPECIAL REPORT The Congress finally manages to ram the Telangana Bill through. But will the gamble pay off. For all those who fought for Telangana, a 45-year-old struggle has finally borne fruit. More than 900 families had lost a loved one to self-immolation in the name of the cause and each one of them know that the new state could have been formed under better circumstances. 

Everyone wishes that their demand for a separate state had been addressed on its own merit as opposed to what the Congress has pulled off — a cynical move with an eye on elections, delivered with an utter lack of grace.

Telangana Goes for a Toss ahead of Polls

By M H Ahssan

Elated over the 3-2 victory for the party in the just concluded Assembly polls, the Congress on Tuesday decided to dump Telangana and go to the people with the development plank of the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government in the 2009 elections.

“The Congress High Command has decided that it will take up the Telangana issue only after the elections next year,” AICC sources told HNN.

This decision of the party high command was conveyed to chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy by AICC general secretary in-charge of the state M Veerappa Moily when the two met in the national capital on Tuesday. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has also directed Rajasekhara Reddy to make the developmental programmes of the state government as the party’s election plank, the sources added, clearly implying that the Congress would go it alone in the polls.

“No more Telangana trouble. The election results of five states has proved beyond doubt that the people prefer a performing government. Except the performance of the state government, nothing matters in the 2009 elections. Therefore, it has been decided to take up the T issue only after the general elections next year,” AICC sources told HNN.

The chief minister is scheduled to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday at which ‘madam’ is expected to wholeheartedly back Rajasekhara Reddy. The chief minister has all along been maintaining that the separate state is not really an issue on the ground and that the developmental programmes undertaken by his government in the region would be enough for the party to sail through in the hustings. “With the thorny issue kept aside for the time being, we can completely focus on returning to power by publicising the developmental programmes,” a CM’s aide said.

Meanwhile, the election results has come as a dampener for both the Telangana Congress leaders and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. “In the backdrop of the Congress win in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram, we cannot press for a decision on Telangana. The results have strengthened the hands of the chief minister,” a Congress leader from Telangana region admitted. Another Congress leader said that they had dropped the idea of meeting Sonia Gandhi on the need to announce creation of Telangana before the general elections.

According to sources, the TRS too is suddenly caught in a dilemma. “Since we cannot go it alone, we will be forced to agree to the TDP and Left terms and join the alliance and hope to counter the Congress in the region,” one TRS leader said.


LOSING HOPES: Is Congress losing hopes of a favourable decision from the party high command on formation of separate Telangana State before the next elections? The tenor of PCC president D Srinivas comments on the issue suggests so.

"It is not an issue to be discussed at the PCC level. In fact it has been discussed at several levels. What is there do discuss now?" the PCC chief said with a tinge of despondency in his voice at a news conference. The reaction came when the reporters asked him if the issue figured in the DCC presidents’ and PCC office bearers’ conference held earlier in the day.

"The party high command has to take a decision on the issue," he said, finally. Asked about senior member and MLA V. Purushotham Reddy’s remarks that lack of unity among senior Congress members had resulted in `dilution’ of Telangana issue, the PCC chief shot back saying that it was for him (Purushotham Reddy) to bring about unity since he is a senior leader.

Dismissing as hollow claim the contention of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) that it would win all the 294 seats in the State, Srinivas said Chiranjeevi’s party had no `history or leadership capability’ that would prove decisive in the elections. Srinivas said that he had given instructions to the party cadre to organise `human chain’ programme on December 28, Congress party Foundation Day. The programme would reflect party’s achievements and commitments with main thrust on development and welfare activities.

Participants would take pledge to rededicate themselves for the success of Congress party.

Another programme titled `Sankshema utsavaalu’ would be taken up to ensure that local Congress leaders and workers visit households of beneficiaries covered under various State and Central Government schemes. Public meetings would be organized in each and every mandal, he said.

On the other hand, BJP accused the Congress, TRS and TDP of sabotaging the Telangana issue by dive r t i n g public attention to the Babli controversy.

Addressing mediapersons, BJP Telangana Udyama Committee chairman Ch Vidyasagar Rao alleged that these parties diverted public attention from Telangana by projecting Babli as the burning issue. "Both are important, but Telangana is paramount. People must realise that this is the right time for the Telangana issue to be taken up on a massive scale. It is a sinister design by all these parties to push the issue on to the backburner," he said.

Rao said the credibility of TRS was at its lowest, as it had been continuously trying to stay afloat by raking up one issue or the other, but not Telangana. "It has not made a sincere effort to convince the Congress to sign a resolution in support of a separate state. TRS is full of pseudo Telangana activists. They should have forced the Congress to introduce a bill in Parliament by now on the separate statehood demand. So, we have no reason to ally with TRS," he said.

Rao said the resounding success of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattissgarh were indicators of NDA's bright chances to come back to power at the Centre. "Though we cannot form government in Rajasthan, neither can the Congress given an unclear mandate," he said.

Ruling out the concept of a third front, Rao said the Congress and BJP were the only key players left in the national political arena. "It is time for all regional and the Left parties to introspect, else they will be wiped out. They should start looking at political parties with an open mind and stop claiming that they have nothing to do with parties like BJP, the BJP leader said."

How Telangana CM KCR is Wiping Out The Congress And Telugu Desam Party From The State?

By M H AHSSAN | INNLIVE

While the TDP is down to three legislators, the Congress is left with just 12 after a series of defections to the chief minister's Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao seems to be generously assisting the Bharatiya Janata Party in its mission to wipe out the Congress from India.

Since the formation of Telangana in 2014, the Congress’ strength in the 119-member state Assembly has fallen from 21 to 12. Over the last two years, there has been a steady trickle of Parliamentarians and legislators from the Congress' Gandhi Bhavan to Telangana Bhavan, the office of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

T- Day Looms Large

For the Congress, the time has come to bite the bullet on Telangana. The question is which model will it choose?

The Congress decision on Telangana is being awaited with bated breath not just in Andhra Pradesh but even in distant Darjeeling. Leaders in Gorkhaland say that if Telangana becomes a reality, the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state (which is now ruled by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration) will be revived. And taking a cue from Telangana and Gorkhaland, home ministry officials fear, could be movements for a separate Vidarbha and Bodoland.

That is the non-political and clinical assessment of the demand for a separate Telangana state in North Block. But even as the political establishment mulls the contents of the home ministry’s note with these observations, it realises that it cannot divorce itself from the political realities existing on the ground in Andhra Pradesh.

Not just is Telangana an emotional issue for many in the region, the state was also critical to the formation of the UPA in both 2004 and ’09, electing Congress MPs in batches of 29 and 33 respectively. For the past three years, however, the Congress has allowed the situation to get out of hand in the state. And now has come the time to bite the bullet on Telangana. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had set a deadline of 28 January to announce a decision.

Nine years of anti-incumbency, the Telangana imbroglio and the Jagan factor have reduced the Kiran Kumar Reddy government to a lame duck regime. Therefore, it is but natural that its decision on Telangana will be linked to efforts to salvage the situation for the Congress. Because if the party is reduced to single digit MPs in Andhra Pradesh, it will also mean its dreams of forming UPA-3 will go up in smoke.

Those pushing for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh are playing on this fear. Congress MP G Vivek (Pedapalli) argues that the party has a chance to come good in at least 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana by declaring it a separate state.

K Chandrasekhar Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, which has spearheaded the separatist movement, has reportedly assured the Congress of a merger, leading to hopes that the Congress could then ride on the sentiment of a new state.

This argument derives strength from the fact that the Congress is in shambles in the other two regions — Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra ( jointly called Seemandhra). Private surveys have put Jagan’s YSR Congress as the winner in most constituencies in Seemandhra and the Congress as a no-hoper. With Jagan having declared that he will not support a BJP-led regime at the Centre, the UPA could hope to do business with him, if he wins a significant number of the 25 Lok Sabha seats from the non-Telangana regions.

While the strategy looks good on paper, the Congress is facing tough opposition from Seemandhra leaders, including the CM. Delegations from the two regions, which met the leadership in New Delhi last week, embarrassed the party when they revealed that the Congress may give Telangana to gain political advantage in the region.

Seemandhra leaders fear water wars and losing their capital, Hyderabad. People from coastal Andhra have huge business interests in and around Hyderabad and say it is unfair that they may have to pack their bags to shift to a new capital.

Interestingly, the Congress is the only party that is vertically divided over the issue now. In December, the TDP gave a letter to Shinde stating it will abide by its position in 2008, when it said it is for a separate Telangana. Taking this stand has helped Chandrababu Naidu gain ground in Telangana and he has not faced much opposition from the common man in the other two regions. Proof that the aam aadmi is only interested in a resolution to the issue, one way or the other.

It isn’t that the Centre has foreclosed all its options. It is also mulling a Gorkhalandtype model to tide over the crisis for the moment. But the question is whether a regional development council and a hefty financial package with a promise to look at the statehood issue afresh post-2014, will keep the state quiet. With elections due next year, Andhra Pradesh looks set for turmoil and troubled times.

Focus: 'Telangana Party In A Fix As Cong Moving Telangana'

By Ramesh Reddy / Hyderabad

It’s a big dilemma for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) now after the Congress on Monday gave clear signals about a favourable decision on the statehood issue and leaders openly said they are not keen for a merger with the regional party anymore. 
    
The TRS had offered to merge with the Congress if the party agreed to carve out a separate Telangana state, but after Sunday’s massive T-Congress rally and the high command making its mind to decide on Telangana the next day, the equation has changed rapidly in 24 hours, forcing the TRS to just watch how things unfold in the next few days. 

Focus: KCR Is Behind Continued Stalemate On Telangana?

By Ramesh Reddy / INN Bureau

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR), who used to claim that ensuring statehood for Telangana was his only motive and for that he was ready to join with any political party, is now being viewed as a leader seeking continuation of stalemate on the issue. Just a few months ago, he offered to merge his party with Congress, if the latter made a notional promise on the floor of the Parliament favoring Telangana state. 

Will 'Telangana Bill' Be Tabled In LS Winter Session?

By M H Ahssan | INN Live

EDITORIAL  Even as all eyes are on the cabinet meeting on Tuesday that will consider the Group of Ministers (GoM) report on Telangana, indications are that the proposals may not get approved as it is. In fact with continued pressure from the Seemandhra lobby, highly placed sources aver that the cabinet may decide to look minutely at the proposals and may not clear it in one sitting. 
    
The proposals before the cabinet envisage creation of Telangana with 10 districts of the present Andhra Pradesh state with its capital being Hyderabad.

New 'Telangana State' Would Soon Be A Reality: Congress

By M H Ahssan / Hyderabad

Congress leaders from Telangana exuded confidence that the separate Telangana state would soon be a reality. In their first-ever show of strength, Congress leaders held a public meeting here, amid the intensified efforts by the party's central leaders to find a solution to the contentious issue.

Thousands of people from various parts of the region attended the meeting at Nizam College Grounds, bringing traffic to halt in several busy areas in the heart of the city. The meeting urged the party leadership to take a decision on granting separate statehood to the region without any further delay. Senior leaders including those who met party president Sonia Gandhi a few days ago, claimed that the party would soon deliver the separate state.

'No Telangana' Till 2014 Elections?

Congress can twist the tail of the Telangana tiger and yet win most seats. The party will therefore not yield to the T-demand till 2014 polls are over.

Has the Congress high command really put the contentious issue of a separate Telangana state on the back burner? Has it decided not to take a call on it until the 2014 elections are over? The answers are in the affirmative.

Highly-placed Congress sources confided in INN that the Congress high command had held four surveys in the State to find out how desperate people of the region are for a separate Telangana state. The surveys reportedly found that people have other priorities and the Congress could win major portions of Telangana region despite the T-factor.

A senior Congress leader who was associated with this survey said, “Yes, our party will not give any assurance on separate Telangana state till the 2014 elections are over. We conducted four surveys across the T-region recently to find out the intensity of the Telangana sentiment. It was revealed that majority of people, especially those belonging to Greater Hyderabad region, which consists of 24 Assembly and four MP seats, are opposed to division of the State for various reasons. These people are in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

The leader, who is a staunch supporter of separate Telangana state, further revealed that the party was not worried about losing a few seats in strong T-bastions like Karimnagar, Warangal and Nizamabad districts. He added that the party is preparing itself to employ various political strategies to win as many Assembly seats as possible in these districts. Another party leader and MLC also confirmed that the survey had been conducted and said that the party was prepared to face any consequences for not creating the separate T-state.

T-leaders have sniffed out the survey, sources said. It has shocked them to learn that people are not unduly worried at the delay in creating a new state. People have other worries, like lack of development, lack of agriculture facilities, rising prices and corruption on their mind. MPs are more concerned about the survey results, which are still under wraps. They have begun consultations on how to survive if the T-feeling is feeble. They rode to Parliament on the crest of strong Telangana sentiment.

On the other hand, the Government of India is taking rapid steps to resolve the contentious Telangana issue before the declaration of the 2014 elections notifications.

The AP Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was in New Delhi, called on both the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi when the Telangana issue seem to have prominently figured along with other important matters concerning the state.

Informed sources disclosed that the Chief Minister had informed both the leaders the imperative need for resolving the Telangana affair without prolonging it further lest it might create an adverse impact on the ruling Congress in the state. He wanted some categorical announcement from the Centre in this aspect and had also assured that he would abide by the decision of the High Command.

According to reliable sources the Centre might not make any firm commitment on the bifurcation of the state at least till the 2014 elections. However, it might come out with a “package” including the setting up of an autonomous regional council for the Telangana and also make a separate budget allocation for the development of the region .This was in tune with one of the recommendations of the Justice Sri Krishna Committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to prepare a road made to resolve the issue.

Kiran Kumar Reddy is also likely to call on the Defence Minister A.K. Antony and the AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi when is expected to explain the mounting problems being faced by his government in view of the delay in resolving the Telangana issue. He might also take the opportunity to broach the activities of the Congress legislators in extending support to Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and seek necessary disciplinary action against them.

The Chief Minister’s consultation with the central leaders including the AICC President is being viewed with great importance in the wake of the separatists including Congress leaders from the Telangana region besides the TRS stepping up their moves to intensify the agitation. Amidst the raging political uncertainty the threat of the agitators taking it to the streets has become a cause of consternation for police and security agencies.

Commentary: Capital Controversy, Hyderabad like Delhi

By Madabhushi Sridhar (Guest Writer)

Under the pressure of the Seemandhra Congress leaders the High Command announced a high level committee with four senior Congress leaders, Digvijay, Antony, Veerappa Moily and Ahmed Patel to remove their apprehensions about revenue, water and safety during division of state.

The seeds of uncertainty and doubts about Hyderabad are sown in the CWC resolution itself, though written with ‘skilful diplomatic efficiency’. Their hesitant assurance and doubtful commitment form part of their written statements, while congress leaders leak every thing ‘off the record’. Earlier when they had poll alliance with TRC in 2004 they just ‘referred’ to Telangana demand which later became controversial and revealed an escape route for them. Then election manifesto, Presidential Address and even the declaration on December 9, 2009 are drafted with great diplomacy which did not lead to any commitment. The latest example, is the resolution of CWC on 30th July 2013.

Commentarty: 'The Inevitability Of Telangana State'

By Kingshuk Nag (Guest Writer)

Redrawing Andhra Pradesh’s map stems from the Congress’s electoral compulsions. Following the integration of 550 princely dominions into the Indian Union in 1956, language was chosen as the basis on which the new states were created. The only exception was the Hindi heartland which was so vast that it was considered prudent to create several states. 
    
Implicit in the creation of linguistic states was the belief that language is the basis of culture. If the same language was spoken across a state it meant that it represented homogenous culture. But this was a faulty belief to start with. In fact, Andhra Pradesh was the first state that was created on a linguistic basis.

Logic Of Telangana Is Sound: Why India Needs 50 States?

By M H Ahssan / INN Bureau

Yesterday’s Congress decision to allow a new state – Telangana – to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh has a simple logic behind it: electoral math. If Telangana had not been announced, Congress would have been wiped out in both the Andhra and Telangana regions in 2014. The announcement thus is a matter of self-preservation.

If this wasn’t the case, Telangana could already have been a reality by now, for the first announcement on it was made as early as on 9 December 2009 by no less a person than P Chidambaram, then Home Minister. That he reneged on the promise in less than two weeks tells another story. That it took three-and-a-half years and a full-fledged people’s agitation for the Congress to make yet another announcement on Telangana tells the story even more clearly.

Telangana Economy: IT, Pharma Likely To Be Backbone Of India's 29th State Post - Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation

By M H Ahssan | INNLIVE

SPECIAL REPORT Telangana being land-locked will have to depend mostly on road and rail for transportation. Post bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the information technology and pharmaceuticals manufacturing sectors may become backbone of Telangana economy, leaving power production, ports and oil and natural gas to play a pivotal role in driving prosperity in the residuary state.

With nearly 1,000 km-long coast line, the coastal Andhra has major private ports such as Krishnapatnam, Kakinada and Gangavaram, besides state-owned Vizag Port and can continue to reap rich harvest by way of export and import of commodities such as iron ore and coal.

Spotlight: Cash For Vote: Will Leaked Tapes Prove To Be Tipping Point For AP CM Chandrababu Naidu?

The Andhra CM's claims of a clean image are in tatters, his promise of being pro-farmer has been proven to be a lie and his stock is falling in Telangana and at the centre as well.

It should have been a good year for Chandrababu Naidu. Having won the 2014 state elections in the truncated state of Andhra Pradesh, he was back in power after a decade in opposition.

Will Chiranjeevi do An Obama?

By Javid Hassan

A charismatic Tollywood star, winner of the Padma Bhushan award and holder of an honorary doctorate in philosophy, actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi had all the makings of a vote-swinger as he entered the political arena with the launch of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) in August this year.

Yet, like the Congress-I, he is playing the “wait & watch” game, watching the political landscape of Telangana and waiting for the right moment to strike. In the meantime, he is mustering the support of the people across the socio-economic spectrum of the region by harping on the theme of social justice and underlining his commitment to “Santosha Andhra Pradesh” (“Happy Andhra Pradesh”).

These slogans raise question marks over the ultimate goal of the PRP. Is it for or against a separate Telangana? By refusing to commit himself one way or the other and, at the same time, aspiring for ‘ Santosha Andhra Pradesh,’

Chiranjeevi appears like a twinkling star making us wonder what you are.

He is, however, leaving nothing to chance as he straddles the political stage with all the panache of a seasoned leader. Thus, at one of the several padayatras that he undertook recently, the actor-turned politician kept newsmen guessing on his party’s stand on the Telangana issue.

At the road shows, too, Chirnajeevi did not chant Jai Telangana even when he was prompted to do so, while he called on his opponents to clarify their stand on the issue. This raises a question over PRP’s depth of commitment to the call for a separate Telangana. The Doubting Thomases also refer to the way he dodges questions on the issue.

The mega star believes that he has outsmarted his political opponents by announcing at his Jagitial road show that PRP would not pose any problem if the Centre granted statehood for Telangana. “In fact, the political parties have little role to play in this regard and it is for the Centre to announce the formation of separate Telangana,” he observed.

While remaining noncommittal on the Telangana issue, Chiranjeevi has sought to firm up his party’s base by speaking for “social justice” at public meetings.He said the need of the hour was “Telangana Samajika Nyayam”(Telangana with social justice) and not mere Telangana as a geo-political entity. Through such a rhetoric he is sending across a message to the vulnerable sections of society that the Telangana movement was being hijacked by some elements of the upper caste for their own vested interests.

In this context, a question is being asked: how seriously do the people of Telangana think that Chiranjeevi is wedded to their cause? The speculation is that things would sort out during the run-up to the elections due in April next year. The PRP leader would then be obliged to take a stand if he wants to gain political mileage out of the spade work that he has already done.

This includes the setting up of the Chiranjeevi Blood Bank in Jubilee Hills, which has raised his profile among the people. What boosted its popularity was that frequent donors had an opportunity to take a personal photograph with their hero. Critics point out that the blood bank has become more of a meeting point for PRP’s party workers and also for those who came from villages and towns with recommendations to get tickets for the forthcoming elections. As a result, the blood bank became overcrowded with fans and political supporters. This has created bad blood between the blood bank and the donors, causing the numbers to shrink.

Nevertheless, Chiru still remains hugely popular. As his party stalwart Naga Babu put it: “We will prove all other political pundits wrong by coming to power. PRP will win with complete majority in the next assembly elections.”

Chiranjeevi replaced NTR as the Telugu film industry’s reigning superstar, and changed it forever. Now that he has entered politics, he might become a political icon as well.

The Telugu Desam Party, which NTR founded in 1982 and with which he swept to power, has now announced support for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh which is, by the standards of political discussion of this sensitive subject, quite unambiguous. The TDP is obviously worried about the possibility that Chiranjeevi will cut into its base in coastal Andhra, while the communists, traditional allies of the TDP before Naidu allied with the NDA, have forged closer ties with the TRS recently. No wonder, TDP has jumped on the Telangana bandwagon as part of its defensive tactic.

The TDP was founded as the party that reflects Telugu pride. Its policies were populist to the core, but, by and large, it appealed to the emotional instinct of the people. However, when Chandra Babu Naidu donned the mantle of TDP leadership from NTR, Naidu replaced the party’s emotional beat with a reformist agenda. This is where Chiranjeevi outsmarted TDP by loading emotional content into his message and pulling the rug from under TDP.

Thus Chiranjeevi has become a force to reckon with in the political equations of Telangana politics. But whether he will win the incoming election on the strength of his own agenda is the key question. During the last Assembly and parliamentary elections, for instance, TRS had contested on a single point agenda—bringing statehood to the region. Most other political party leaders of the region had rubbished the idea at the time (except the Congress) mostly due to pressure from the party hierarchy which was sceptical of the whole idea. Congress eventually tied up with TRS promising the people a new state of Telangana. The rest, as they say, is history.

Chiranjeevi has so far avoided these political somersaults by keeping them guessing on his next move. Maybe, he wants to shine in his own light as a superstar and also on the strength of his own achievements that won him the honorific title of Padma Bhushan, the second highest Presidential Award in 2006. This led to an unprecedented international walkathon event in his honour organised by Pravasa Vaaradhis and the screening of a short film "Chiranjeevi: For Change!," which included his first ever campaign song.

The movie, an indigenous NRI production, featured the "Chiru Song 2008" composed, written and sung by prominent NRI Music Director SaiBorg, the son of a well-known folk singer. Whether Chiranjeevi will do an Obama in Telangana remains to be seen.

Analysis: 'Escaping The Telangana State Trap'!

By Rajinder Puri / Delhi

Congress General Secretary  Digvijay Singh raised media expectations to fever pitch by asserting that the Congress Core Committee meeting on Friday would take its final decision on granting separate statehood to Telengana. But the meeting ended with a whimper. He lamely announced that the Working Committee will later discuss the issue.

The Congress dilemma is understandable. The party’s supreme leader  Sonia Gandhi in the pursuit of narrow intrigue against  Jagan Mohan Reddy recklessly committed her party to a separate Telangana in order to counter him.

Analysis: Will 'Telangana State' Finally Be A Reality?

By Mohd. Shafeeq / Hyderabad

Will a separate Telangana state finally be a reality? If the party leaders from Telangana are to be believed, the central leadership has made up its mind to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. They say it is only a matter of time before the party announces its much-awaited decision. 

Congress general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Digvijaya Singh has already gone on record that the consultation process on the Telangana issue had been completed and that the party would soon take a final decision. The highest decision-making body of the ruling party, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), is expected to meet by month-end to take a final call on the over six-decades-old contentious issue that has triggered political uncertainty since 2009.

Congress Debacle: Telangana Becomes Collateral Damage

By Sandeep Kumar | Hyderabad

Is Telangana going to pay for Congress's debacle in the four state elections? The near total decimation of the Congress has encouraged Congress MPs from Seemandhra, TDP, YSR Congress and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to step up their attack on the creation of a new state. These parties also have the backing of regional parties like the Samajwadi Party, AIADMK, BJD, TMC etc.

The Congress at the Centre is shaken by the scale of defeat. The situation is chaotic. According to some insiders the mood is funeral. Many in the party have already come to the conclusion that the Congress will not retain power in the April-May Lok Sabha polls. They say that the party seems to have lost the political will to go ahead with Telangana in the current winter session of Parliament.