.jpg)
Kapu's Strategy
AP PCC Chief Botsa Satyanarayana, Union Minister Chiranjeevi Emerging As New Power Centre. The public criticism of chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy by Union tourism minister Chiranjeevi and the sudden assertion of PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana - seeking a bigger role in the state cabinet is part of a bigger plan of the Kapu community to take control of the state Congress ahead of the 2014 elections.
Several ministers in the Kiran cabinet, who didn’t want to be named, told INN that an intense power struggle is on in the state Congress between the Reddys led by the chief minister on the one hand and the Kapu ministers and leaders in the party. “The Congress has all along been controlled by the Reddys. However, it is coming to an end now. We want to make sure it that the party falls into our hands,” a Kapu minister told INN with great confidence.
Strangely, the consolidation of his position as CM by Kiran Kumar Reddy during the last few months has seen an unusual development with the Kapu ministers moving closer as one unit. “The CM has kept all the ministers on a tight leash. Even requests of appointments of minor officials in their native districts are not being entertained, especially from those whom he perceives as a threat to his position.
Therefore, the ministers need to act as one unit to counter him,” said an aide of a minister from the coastal region.
In several informal meetings over the past few months, the Kapu ministers have come to the conclusion that Kiran Kumar Reddy will not forego his position until the 2014 elections. “At this juncture, some sort of political realignment is on. A majority of the Reddys are migrating to the YSR Congress. And what is worrying for the Congress is that the SCs, particularly the Malas, are moving towards Jaganmohan Reddy. And if the Congress has to remain a power before the next polls, it has to rally the BC community behind it. And that can be done only by Kapu leaders like Chiranjeevi, Botsa etc,” said a political analyst sympathetic to the Kapu cause .
It is with this game plan that several Kapu ministers have decided to take on the chief minister head on. ‘Chiru, Botsa can rally BCs behind Cong’.
“Chiranjeevi’s constant criticism of Kiran Kumar Reddy on the power tariff hike and Botsa staking claim for the deputy chief minister post and home portfolio is part of this plan. With sufficient backing, both these leaders can rally the electorate, particularly the BCs, behind the Congress in all the three regions of the state,” claimed sources rallying behind these leaders.
According to the sources, a senior leader hailing from the Kapu community has already communicated to the Congress high command that the BC votes would be vital for the party if it needs to display a strong showing in the 2014 elections. And that can be achieved only by allowing the Kapu leaders to take control of the party at least six months before the polls are held, the leader is believed to have apprised the Congress central leaders.
On his part, Kiran Kumar’s strategy is to hold on to the CM’s post as long as possible, especially in the wake of the Reddys deciding to align with Jagan.
“Despite being loyal Congress supporters, the Kapus have all along played second fiddle to the Reddys in the Congress. And chancing a possibility of them finally getting their chance, the Kapus will not remain silent now,” said the analyst.
In short, the run up to the 2014 general and assembly elections is set to see a major caste power struggle in the Congress, one that could alter the political map of the state forever. And both sides are readying for a no holds barred battle.
The Reddy's Game Plan
Aware of the silent rebellion within, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has chalked out a three-pronged strategy to consolidate his hold on the state Congress, ensure that the ruling party remains in the control of the Reddys, and make sure that the Congress retains power in the 2014 elections.
The three-fold strategy, according to the CM loyalists, is to take control of the party at the earliest by replacing Botsa Satyanarayana as PCC chief with a BC leader from Telangana, announce a sub-plan for the BCs on the lines of the SC-ST sub-plan, and dole out largesse to the Reddy community and arrest their migration to the YSR Congress. “If Kiran Kumar Reddy manages to lure the BC votes into the Congress kitty and retain the Reddys by giving them sops, he will emerge the winner in 2014,” said an aide of the CM.
A tall order, but achievable, they say. According to them, the strategy is working. “Those who are vocally anti-CM, like C Ramachandraiah and D L Ravindra Reddy have been effectively sidelined. The ministers fearing a call from the CBI desperately need his backing. All the others have been browbeaten into silence. Very shortly, Kiran Kumar Reddy will get the green signal to appoint a new PCC chief. Once that happens, the CM’s control over the state and government and party will be complete,” said sources.
According to the sources, the CM is tilting towards appointing Ponnala Lakshmaiah as the new PCC chief. “Although a Munnuru Kapu, Ponnala is perceived more as a BC leader from Telangana, and has largely stayed away from the Kapu group. Therefore, he will fit the bill,” the sources claimed. A change in the state party leadership is part of the agenda that the CM will take up with the central leaders during his visit to Delhi on April 15, the sources added.
The second factor is the BC vote bank. The CM think tank is working out a sub-plan for the BCs, something that would better what TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy have promised for them. Unlike the opposition parties, Kiran Kumar Reddy can dip into the available central funds for the BCs and announce several schemes as part of the subplan,” the sources said. The BC sub-plan is being worked out and like the one for the SC-STs, nobody in his right mind will oppose it, they said.
The third factor is doling out sops to the Reddy community. “The Reddy leaders want two things ---a grip on the local police, and contracts, both panchayat raj and irrigation. As along as these two are assured, they will be more than happy in remaining in the Congress,” said the sources.
Control over the local cops is needed in order to settle and solve cases involving their followers, and towards that end, the home department is already under their control in the form of Sabita Indra Reddy, director general of police Dinesh Reddy and intelligence chief Mahender Reddy and the Reddy hold on the home department will continue even if Sabita needs to be replaced, they said.
According to analysts, seeking contracts in the panchayat raj and irrigation departments is a new phenomenon in the Reddy community seen since 2004, when Y S Rajasekhara Reddy came to power. “If these contracts continue to come, no Reddy will go to Jagan. In fact, the CM has deputed senior ministers in the government like M Mahidhar Reddy, P Sudarashan Reddy and Anam Ramnarayan Reddy to assure the Reddy leaders that these benefits will continue to pour for them,” said the sources.
The three-pronged strategy has been set in motion and will need all the skills of the CM and his aides to make it a success. And the first challenge would come his way in a few days when it will be known whether Kiran Kumar Reddy gets the nod for a change in the state party leadership and a cabinet reshuffle.
No comments:
Post a Comment