Friday, May 13, 2011

Jagan Success, Corruption and Future

Indrasena Reddy, Samasinha Reddy, Adi Kesava Reddy and now Jaganmohan Reddy!. I loved watching the first three Reddy's on the Tollywood Screens. Today, we have seen the fourth Reddy, Jagan in the real life. Challenge, action and job done! Even his die hard followers would not have anticipated this spectacular result. This is the result Jagan cannot even sustain or repeat even in the next election. Call it hard work, alternative option, money magic, Kadapa bomb culture or credibility of the family - the result once for all cemented many open questions until now are the platform for debates.

As I said in my one of my earlier blogs, not many political personalities survived challenging, Nehru's or Gandhi's (from Mahatma Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi). That element of fear was seen even in YS Rajasekhar Reddy - and hence he always attributed all his political success and political survival to I, R and S Gandhi's. Jagan took a different path. Challenged Sonia Gandhi in public and then unlike any other politician in the contemporary politics (unprecedented)- resigned for the MP position and along with his mother Vijayalakshmi's MLA seat, came out in public and fought a real war. This is no simple battle. For all others, it is one of their elections battles. For Jagan it is do or die situation. Had he lost the election or won with any thing but huge margin - his political career is finished. By all means, he proved to be honest and upfront in his fight. Despite, 18 Cabinet Ministers of the state camping in Kadapa along with Kiran Kumar Reddy personal interest under Sonia Gandhi watch, Jagan won against huge odds. Well done!

Now coming to question of how Jagan won the election. The Telugu Desam Party and their Yellow media might say it his illegally earned money that won him the seat. According to the accounts Rs 300 Crores was spent in the campaign. Of that even assuming Jagan's share is 50%, the rest is spent by TDP and Congress. There is no doubt that, even that money is unaccounted or black money since Election rules does not permit spending beyond certain limit. Basicaly all all black sheep and Jagan's colour is a little dark.

Now coming to the Jagan's wealth and meteoric raise, I  liked the explanation given by Vundavalli Arun Kumar in "Open Heart with RK" (one of the best programs to watch basically due to Vemuri Radhakrishna's lucid style).



Incidentally Arun Kumar, a 2nd term MP from Rajahmundry -  was a staunch follower of YS Rajasekhar Reddy, but now having a soured relationship with Jagan was attacked by YSR Congress and Jagan coterie. Coming to the point, Vundavalli clearly explained the difference between Ramoji Rao and YS Jaganmohan Reddy wealth and why Jagan is legally correct even though Technically (by Dharma) could be wrong. However, neither Eenadu nor Chandrababu Naidu would stop continue their assault (though their origins were lot worse than Jagan's). (I am not supporting Jagan in any way. But my view that all these politicians are corrupt does not need any special attention for Jagan as an issue)

Now coming to the future - if attaining success is a challenge, sustaining is going to be even more a gigantic task. For all, we have seen Jagan is less a politician and more a firebrand Leader. Probably his assets could be like his father credibility and trust. The clear verdict would be a disaster for Congress. How Telugu Desam is going to revive would depend more on Jagan's strategic mistakes than Chandrababu Naidu Chanakya neethi. Though at the outset TRS is happy with Jagan's win with the hope that a decision on Telangana would be taken, Jagan like his father would not support bifurcation. With Mamata Benerjee and Jayalalithaa in power any state bifurcation would have serious resistance from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu due cascading effects. The only serious possibility of TRS merging with Congress also look a feeble option.

With this election, I think for the first time - since 1983 election - YSR family established itself as the first political family of the state, displacing Nadamuri-Nara families. With even spread of Reddy's across the state, YS Jagan vote bank and appeal would be strongest across the state than any other leader. With Naidu struggling with Telangana revolt internally, Congress without any leaders, Brand Jagan is perfectly placed to take a jolly ride. Will he succeed or how much, time only would tell.

From 13th May 2011, Andhra Pradesh politics, political equations and political power changed forever by a the real life Kadapa Reddy

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