Babli Issue: Cong Threatened By TDP

The state Congress is seen to be increasingly rattled by the third cog in the political wheels, with less than a week to go before the voting for 12 assembly constituencies is held.

The Telugu Desam Party, at the time when the by-elections were notified by the Election Commission, had seemingly stood no chance of capturing any of the 12 seats.

But with TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu's arrest in Maharashtra, ostensibly while trying to protect the rights of farmers of Telangana, hogging media attention, the rapidly unfolding events have put the state Congress on the backfoot.

According to sources, the arrest and the subsequent protests across the state by TDP supporters have begun to worry the Congress party leadership.

The Congress was, at the beginning of the campaign to the by-elections, in a win-win situation. It had nothing to lose, since all the 12 seats were originally held by the opposition parties.

Even if it wins one seat, it was advantage Congress all the way. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi had everything to lose, since it is defending the seats it held.

With the rousing of public opinion in favour of the TDP's stand over the Babli issue, many senior Congress leaders believe that the voters who are against the TRS and were opting to vote for the Congress would now vote for the TDP.

This worry is being reflected by the reaction of many Congress leaders who are now trying to relegate the stand taken by the TDP chief on the Babli issue as meaningless by saying that the Congress has already accepted that the construction of the dam by the Maharashtra government across the Godavari river is illegal.

The Congress leaders are also harping on the proposed all-party delegation Chief Minister K Rosaiah is leading to New Delhi on July 23.

They claim that the delegation is proof enough that the Congress is serious in its attempt to find a solution to the Babli issue.

The Congress leaders are also finding fault with Naidu's inspection trip, and say that it is harming relations between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, and also leading to tension amongst people.

The Congress is also claiming that it is the true champion of Telugu self-respect since it is the only party which had enabled a Telugu 'bidda' to become Prime Minister.

Courtesy: INN