Accusing the KCR government of promoting vested interests, Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman Prof Kodandram Reddy on Tuesday said that he is still indecisive about entering mainstream politics.
He also dismissed speculations of joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). TNM has learnt that some key leaders from AAP were in talks with Kodandram to join and lead their party in the state.
In an exclusive interview to TNM, Kodandram said, “We want to completely overhaul the existing political system and bring in ‘value-based’ politics.”
“The question of whether we change the political system by joining mainstream politics or by practicing value-based/alternative politics is still under discussion.”
However, he maintained that he may contest in the 2019 general elections.
When asked if it wasn’t too late to get into the political fray, Kodandram replied, “I don’t think so, many are telling me otherwise, that it is too early.”
Accusing the present government of favouring their friends, he said, “The current government is favouring their friends and relatives in land settlements and promoting their vested interests.”
Kodandram said that there is disenchantment among the people in the state. “After achieving the separate state, everyone expected a major transformation in the state. But nothing has changed except for self-centred people ruling the state,” he said, taking a jibe at TRS chief and Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao.
He said that the state is grappling with ‘self-centred’ and ‘self-seeking politics’.
“Our agenda is to realize the objective of the TJAC, which is common welfare of the people and promotion of alternative politics,” the TJAC chairman said.
He noted, “There should be some intervention in the political realm. Everyone should come into politics. Politics shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing.”
He categorically stated that the TJAC, which vociferously fought for the separate state, will remain the same independent organization and will keep a tab on the government policies to see if there’s any disenchantment among the public even if it enters mainstream politics.