TDP Flays TRS Mantris For "Disrespecting" Kodandaram

The Telangana Opposition parties all seem to have smelt blood in the TRS' rather vitriolic attack on Telangana Political JAC chairman M Kodandaram, and to have united in coming to his rescue.

Earlier this week Kodandaram, a leading Telangana statehood agitator who derives substantial legitimacy from his lack of any political affiliations or (seemingly) ambitions, had called for KCR's resignation for failing the cause of farmers even after two years in power.

That led to a fusillade of recrimination from TRS ministers, which in turn seems to have provided welcome ammunition for the Opposition parties in Telangana desperate for a foot in the door in a State steadily turning an impregnable TRS fortress.

Telangana TDP working president A Revanth Reddy, a prominent Opposition leader and possibly the only leader of any standing the TDP still has left in the region, joined the voices supporting Kodandaram today, terming criticism of the ex-Professor by TRS leaders including ministers as "unwarranted".

"Is this the way the TRS is giving respect to a Telangana protagonist?" Reddy demanded to know. "Kodandaram was used during the Telangana movement by the TRS for his credibility, and now that he has turned dispensable, is being criticized by the same Party," he lamented.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao should control his ministers for their outbursts against Kodandram, the TDP leader demanded.

Reddy's defence of Kodandaram may be seen as self-serving in many quarters, but for Kodandaram himself, it is stature-enhancing. He seems to be quickly turning a larger-than-life statesman thanks to having gotten into an enviable position where it is in the interests of the entire Opposition to elevate him to a veritable saint. It's not hard to see the TRS itself needing to do the same soon.