TRS-TJAC cold war' spills out in the open

Hyderabad: The cold war between the ruling TRS and the Telangana Joint Action Committee, headed by Prof. Kodandaram, is now out in the open, with ministers and other TRS leaders hitting back at the TJAC’s criticism of the two-year-old government.

Taking exception to Prof Kodandaram’s, and others’ charges that the Chandrasekhar Rao government has failed to improve the lot of Telangana people during its two-year rule, ministers Jagdish Reddy, Etela Rajender, Jupally Krishna Rao, Laxma Reddy, Srinivas Yadav and others lashed out at the TJAC chief, accusing him of bias.

Mr Jagdish Reddy said: “Some claiming to be TJAC are criticising KCR. Kodandaram belongs to which JAC? What is the objective of political JAC? KCR had formed TJAC during T-movement. It comprised of TRS, Congress, BJP, CPI and CPM. After formation of Telangana, all parties have left TJAC.” He reminded that the TRS has won every byelection after it came to power in 2014.

“People are backing TRS to the hilt,” he said. TRS MP Balka Suman alleged that Prof. Kodandaram was “Congress agent” while Deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy advised him to enter politics and give advice.

Relations between Mr Chandrasekhar Rao and Prof. Kodandaram soured during the Telangana movement over the “Million March” and other mode of agitations.
After formation of the state, the TRS chief kept Prof. Kodandaram and a few other leaders at a distance.

It is learnt that on instructions from the CM, TNGOs and other employees organisations recently pulled out of TJAC like the political parties had done earlier. Prof. Kodandaram had met Mr Chandrasekhar Rao recently to invite him for his son’s wedding.

After keeping a low profile for some time, he announced that he would continue with the TJAC which would act as watchdog over the government.

Participating in a programme organised by Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika at a book release function on the TRS’ two-year rule on Sunday, Prof. Kodandaram had gone hammer and tongs against the government, saying despite achieving statehood for Telangana, Hyderabad continued to be dominated by contractors and real estate agents that existed in undivided AP.

Mere development of Hyderabad was not enough and that every district should develop, he had said. “Steps taken by the state government to improve the lot of people, especially poor, promised change in education system, reduction in expenses on medicare to the poor etc. were next to zero. We will be behind the government to implement promises. Opposition is trying for power while government is trying to retain it,” he said.

Prof Kodandaram, Prof Haragopal and others hinted that that government should step down if it can’t fulfil the promises made to the people.