Even as he battles the agony of losing his father so unfortunately and so untimely, young Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy perhaps is also battling another tragedy – that of the heartbroken AP’s deaths triggered by YSR’s sad demise. All that he could perhaps has on his lips is a prayer “please don’t die” because he knows how much his father loved the very same people and gave up his life in their service. That is one facet to the phenomenon of YSR that the junior has to contend with. It is also the aspect that the Congress party could be considering in the days to come even as the battle for succession rages. The party could be weighing this factor far more than any. There is a link between these deaths and how YSR made AP a bastion for the Congress party at the Centre. The chopper crash has claimed not just five lives including that of YSR, but also that of 343 persons so far in the State. Majority of these are due to heart attacks. The rest were consumed by their passionate love for YSR who reached out to them in the last five years like none others had done. There is no geographical disparity too to these tragedies that are striking individual households. Cutting across regions, people are following YSR in his death too just as they had done, in his life. What could be the reason? Populist schemes and programmes may fetch one votes as one has seen in several states. But not such love. A careful analysis of the deaths brings to our notice one fact that most of these are poor people whose very life was transformed by YSR. The late Chief Minister not only introduced several schemes but every one realize that those are not mere schemes, but his way of thanksgiving to the masses who brought him to power after a very long political career. Free power or Rs.2 a kg rice scheme could help you one time in retaining power, but certainly not endear one to the masses so much as YSR did. Only some one like him who could constantly think of people’s welfare could achieve this. If rice scheme and free power helped YSR’s vote bank, what made him a god of the masses is his Arogyasri, pensions to the aged, 108 and 104, housing programme and scholarships. These programmes enveloped entire state and had no political imbalances. The poor and the deprived sections saw not just a benefit in them but a new lease of life. Just earning two meals a day is not what they wanted, but dignity to their lives. They wanted some one to take care of their all needs. And YSR did exactly that. The aged and the infirm in the villages got restored of their confidence that even if their children neglect them, they could survive. The young widows could stave off the wolf from the door with the widow pensions that YSR delivered. Arogyasri was a rare phenomenon that revolutionised the concept of health care and brought five star treatment facilities to the doorsteps of people. Serious ailments like congenital disorders that could snatch away dear family members were kicked out of the households. Diseases like cancer were no more threats to the lives. Persons did not hesitate to knock the doors of corporate hospitals. They clutched their white ration cards, got wheeled into the hospitals with ailments and walked out smiling. Then there was the letter from YSR, perhaps a fifth or sixth one, inquiring into their well being and blessing one and all. The smile on the face of YSR was in fact what the smiling poor donated to him. And he wore it in style. People poured out their grief in front of him and he consoled them patting their backs or touching their heads. The confidence got restored. The self-dignity that YSR restored in the masses was something that made him a messiah of the masses. In him they saw, an elderly son, a brother, an uncle and a father, but not just a Chief Minister. If today the same spontaneous outpour of grief is slowly turning into a demand for continuing the YSR legacy, it is not strange. The masses are seeking is continuation of the same programmes and schemes that changed their lives and restored their right to decent life and dignity. They are also seeking the same caring and loving attitude that went along with those till the other day. It is this legacy that they are thirsting for. Because, they are not sure that power hungry politicians could continue delivering the same, they are raising this slogan and pressurizing their MLAs and MPs to bow to their wishes. Caught in the whirlpool of emotional yet rational pressure is the Congress public representative. What are they going to do, is a million dollar question ahead of them now. If they don’t yield to the people’s wish, they find it difficult in going back to their constituencies. If they seek the same from the high command, it could give one an impression that they are trying to blackmail in favour of someone. It would be interesting to watch the moves of the Congress high command now. The people are waiting with bated breath. Many with their breath halted already out of fear that along with their dear YSR, their hope too has vanished. |
Saturday, September 5, 2009
An appeal to YSR fans: Please Don't Die
The YSR Earthquake and Aftermath Power Games
Dr. YSR's tragic and untimely death, at the height of his power, is an earthquake in AP politics with a significant impact in New Delhi. The news analysis pouring in have rightly pointed out the huge leadership hole left in AP congress's eternally divided family. Dr. YSR with his dynamism, shrewdness, and the common man's touch sidelined his opposition within the party, and delivered the goods to Congress high command, but what next? The vested interest in the party and outside the party want YSR's son YS JaganMohan Reddy to take the mantle, and one of the key person who seems to behind this move is KVP Ramachandra Rao, who will also be the man behind YS Jagan if he get the CM's chair. The image of a standing KVP behind YS Jagan's appeal to the public and congress followers to maintain calm and be bold in the face of tragedy was a clear and conspicuous message of his presence, and say in the post YSR power games. Would Congress president Sonia Gandhi fall for the pressure brought on her by YSR's supporters who want YS Jagan as the CM, or will she choose someone outside this group. The YS Jagan lobby is strong in the elected congress assembly members and MPs, but there are equally powerful, senior, experienced, shrewed detractors who are already pointing YS Jagan's inexperience in the rough and hard politics of AP, and lack of governance and policy knowledge. So whom will Sonia choose? will she go with the emotional route, or will she avoid the emotional trap as she and has her son has set the example. The best option in this tragic and complex situation may be to continue with current CM K Rosiah until a consensus is evolved and emotions have calmed down, and to mollify YS Jagan's supporters, he can be accommodated in the central as a state minister. K Rosiah has already indicated he is not averse to continue, as he said that there is no such thing as a caretaker CM in the Indian constitution. After an year or two K Rosiah can sidestep or retire expressing his old age, paving way to the person whom Sonia wants to deliver her 2014, and the necessary goods of politics. It could be YS Jagan or anybody else, depending how each one plays his cards from now until then. If YS Jagan is made the CM at this point then for a while there could be a pause in the attacks from opposition because of the sympathy factor, but pretty soon the opposition could end up with the upper hand, and the perpetual infighting in the congress could be a perennial news on the front pages of the media. But, the current situation, ironically, is the most propitious for YS Jagan to press for his case. Once this moment passes away who knows what's in store for future. Sonia'll be thinking how to counter the formidable CBN and TDP, Telangana forces, and other detractors who do not spare the smallest opportunity to pounce and belittle the govt. She'll be also worrying on how to keep her flock together, as there is a very plausible case of 30 to 40 MLAs belonging to any faction, walking out and forming a govt with opposition support. Then there is Chiranjeevi, who can see the post YSR gap to salvage his sagging image and party. There is also a wild possibility of Chiranjeevi merging his party with Congress, if he is offered the plum post of CM or something at the center, remember Narayan Rane in Maharashtra was lured from Shiv Sena with this pretext, it is another thing that it did not work out. Even if not now, may be after 2 years or before 2014, depending how Chiranjeevi fares until then. The biggest looser of the current tragedy in political terms is Roja, what a inopportune political timing. Vijayashanti is less impacted, as she can go to any party, as she has a standing and an image of her own. Then there're YSR loyalists, ministers, MLAs and politicians who wanted to switch parties, businessmen, and industrialists whose fate was directly linked to YSR. An iron ore mining baron was trying to get central bailout funds via YSR to save his business from the global recession, realtors lobby and Rayalseema lobby had a free hand in many affairs. The state of AP is also a looser in the significant future, as there is no strong voice from the state which could influence the center, so don't be surprised if plum projects are taken away by other states in the process of competition. The political situation is rapidly evolving, and will be interesting to watch, as indian politics as always are. Written By Shalivahana |
NTR's daughter too in AP CM race?
NEW DELHI: Union Minister D Purandeswari on Saturday appeared to be not ruling herself out of the race for Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministership.
Purandeshwari, daughter of the late N T Ramarao, the first non-Congress Chief Minister of the state, merely remarked "everything depends on the high command" when asked whether she was in the race.
"The high command is competent enough to take a decision," she said initially when asked about who could be the next chief minister.
Purandeswari's remarks were significant as they came amid the stepped up campaign by supporters of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy for making him the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh to take the place of his father.
Funny SMS after YSR's death
A funny SMS is doing rounds among friends after the burial of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday. It shows how various people reacted after YSR’s demise:
Vijayashanti and Roja: Ayyo devuda, maa sangathendi? Nuvvu rammani vellipoyinavu; vaallu unchokoru; Memu ekkadiki povaala? |
Chandrababu Naidu: Oh, well; I still keep the record of being a chief minister for the longest period.
ramoji Rao and Vemuri Radhakrishna: Thank You God!
Lessons Can Be Learnt From YSR's Life
When it comes to the life and story of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, it is no less than a memoir of rich experiences and learning points for others. So here is a gist of what lessons one can take in a point sequence.
Given the qualities that YS possesses, it would take a book but then if one is able to implement at least five out of these then they can bring about a huge difference to this world. That’s what YS did and that’s what he expected others to do. |
