Hero of 2001-2011 decade: K Chandrasekhar Rao

A decade is a long time for an individual life, a state or nation's history. To remain a poweful Leader, despite all the odds and strong anti-currents would be a remarkable achievement. In order to sustain a movement, that had split a race vertically for more than a decade requires political acumen, survival instincts and above all supreme energy. To sustain the critical mass and to keep the movement ever green amongst the die hard fans or die hard opponents and to remain a centre of attention amongst the not so friendly media requires above all - common sense. And that would fit to Kavlakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao, the President of the Telengana Rastra Samithi.

Even after the decade long fight, the Telengana state looks like a mirage. Each time, KCR pulls a coup-de-tat, it appears that the inevitable is achieved. It always amused me, to see the great political strengths & acumen of KCR to fight against two of the strongest Leaders of the Andhra Pradesh state, Chandrababu Naidu and Late YS Rajasekhar Reddy. Despite many strategic blunders, KCR always knew - how to remain on the winning side. While fighting for the Telengana KCR faced many fronts of opponents. First, he was caught at the right time by the Congress leadership in 2004. In the anti-Telugu Desam wave, YSR came to power with absolute majority. It was the first political blow to KCR - though he was on a winning side Government of the time never wanted to deliver the promise of the Telengana state. During the course of this decade, KCR found the most formidable opponent in YS Rajasekhar Reddy. YSR ensured that, KCR was pushed into the the complex web of command structure that eventually stops at 10, Janpath. But, Madam Gandhi at supreme top never expresses her views on the such critical issues. Hence KCR could never define the face of his opponent! As a result, he went on burning his ire on the Andhra and Rayalaseema people who had nothing to do with these political games.

KCR at his best can be described as brash and a maverick. Despite all the cornering during the YSR times, KCR made significant gains. First of all, he successfully reduced Telugu Desam Party [once a party of pride for entire Telugu speaking people] into a non entity in Telengana region. Chandrababu Naidu, never had a clue on how to respond to KCR or the Congress. Having virtually trapped, Chandrababu Naidu due to series of strategic mistakes reduced himself and his party into a non-entity or insignificant political force in the Andhra Pradesh. If KCR is real winner of the 2001-11 decade, the Chandrababu Naidu represents the exact opposite [but for the powerful media support from Eenadu or Andhajyothy he is written off as of now]. Having lost control of his party, that is split vertically into pro- and anti - Telangana groups, as it stands future of TDP is very uncertain at the best, as it will have to counter the raising image and force of YS Jaganmohan Reddy in rest of the state.

To remain undisputed leader and become a face of Telengana Statehood movement is perhaps by far the biggest biggest achievement of KCR. Despite of all the kinds of splits that we have seen with in TDP and Congress and then virtual erosion of Prajarajyam Party in Telengana region, KCR is truly the leader who remains unchallenged when it comes to consolidation of the movement. He could even crush the film glamour of Vijayashanti. This is not a small feat by any measure. First of all, KCR does not have an unconditional media support that Chandrababu or YS Jagan / YSR could enjoy. Secondly, KCR does not come from one of dominant castes (or communities) that control the power of the state. Being a Velama, the political capital that he could inherit or bank up on is very much limited.

Unlike most of the current leaders including YS Jagan who is projected being a mass Leader, KCR comes with a common man touch. He knows the pulse of the people. He speaks their language. He speaks their problems and he speaks with passion and emotions that helps to rejuvenate the masses and rally behind him. That is what happens always let it be, when he lost the elections or when got marginalised by wily Congress and TDP politics. KCR always waited for an opportunity like a Tiger hunting for a deer and then pound on, to throw them into disarray. Until YSR was alive, KCR success was limited. But his ability to survive almost 6 years against all the odds tell the tenacity of his survival skills.

The success of KCR probably could be attributed to the lack of strategic view for all the leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema region. At the best, Andhra and Rayalaseema is more into a reactive mode as they have shown their strength of power in Dec 2009 following the "miscalculated" announcement by Chidambaram in New Delhi that almost brought the Central Government into the brink of collapse. Despite all the set backs and another ploy by Government of India that resulted in Srikrishna commission to look to the affairs the state, KCR maintained high level of energies. One obvious strength of KCR is his timing. He knows extremely well and perhaps better than any politician in India on - how to take an issue and then convert that into a net gain in the balance sheet. When nothing moves he knows how to remain silent. And while against adversaries - he knew too well about, how to put this opponents into chaos, and finally - he knows how keep his grip on the party despite 10 year long struggle.

It is not known when and if Telengana state would come into existence. But, KCR already ensured the safety of his personal  kingdom with his son KT Rama rao or daughter Kavitha and nephew Harish Rao becoming coterie. This is nothing different to Nadamuri / Nara family control of Telugu Desam or puedo Gandhi family control of Congress or Karunanidhi family iron grip over DMK.

For all the survival skills, tenacity, perseverance and political acumen - Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhara Rao is the politician of 2001-2011 decade in Andhra Pradesh. You may like him, or hate him - but you cannot ignore this fragile personality who could shiver Delhi by one fast and bring chill in Hyderabad with one statement.