TDP's "Jai Telangana" slogan: gamble or a clever tactic

The Hindu in its editorial today says the TDP has deviated from its 'firmly articulated policy' of a unified Andhra to support the cause of telangana keeping in view the 'prospect of electoral'

alliance' in the forthcoming elections.

Here is why I think its not solely so:

Firstly, the TDP has, as far long back as in May has announced its decision to consider the proposal of Telangana seriously and also categorically stated then that it cannot go against the sentiments of the people of the region if they wish to have a state of their own.

Which explains yesterday's announcement as not being a sudden one in that.

Secondly, over the years the party has proven to be a major player in the elections in telangana, never going below 30% vote share, despite strictly advocating the concept of a unified state. It 

has managed to get a decent vote share in the 2004 elections when  it got a drubbing all over the state despite facing a formidable opposition in the form of the Congress+ TRS+ Communists.

Even in the latest round of by-elections that followed the resignations of the TRS's members from the assembly TDP managed to win 4 seats which was an all gains-no loss scenario. And this is when the other two parties are avowed supporters of a separate state.

So to even think that TDP would decide in favor of seperate Telangana just to ally with the TRS, whose own credentials are serisously bruised over the past two years, would be premature talk.

Thirdly, with the emergence of new political parties on the block like Praja Rajyam, which could steal a significant share of votes from every party owing to the star power of its founder Chiranjeevi, TDP has had to take a stance on an issue that has long been in the field to pre-empt any possible damage that may incur due to the new parties which include the breakaway leader Goud's NTPP.

So now this leaves the Congress party in a tricky situation. It has now no option but to come clear on its policy on Telangana.

Fourthly, everyone knows that a seperate Telangana is an eventuality excepting that its a matter of time. So this latest move would now put the TDP in a very advantagious position which would actually pre-empt any other party from hijacking the issue of Telangana.

In all ways I view this not as a gamble by Mr. Naidu, but as a challenge from him to other parties to face him now on a different ground because this decision is a likely game changer in many aspects in this part of the country.

Let wait and see what is going to unfurl in the coming days and months.