TJAC chairman Prof Kodandram to float a political party ahead of 2019 elections?

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao may have a new political opponent in the state, and it is none other than his former ally and chairman of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) professor Kodandram.

The TJAC chairman is considering floating a new political party to contest against the Telangana Rashtra Samiti party in the 2019 general elections.

The proposal to establish a party was made by one of the JAC members who pointed out to the TJAC that the opposition has failed to effectively counter the failures of KCR led TRS government which includes the growing unemployment rate and the farmer suicides in the state.

Speaking to TNM, Kodandram said, “We received a proposal for establishing a party from one of our members. We are considering the possibilities. We are discussing the proposal with our JAC members and it is in a very rudimentary stage.”

When asked for the need to launch a political party, he said, “The government under the helm of KCR has brazenly misused power which is unprecedented. Presently, there is no place in Hyderabad to agitate or hold a dharna. The government undertook undemocratic measures to silence the critics.”

When asked, if he thought that the opposition had failed to counter KCR effectively and hence he is launching a party, Kodandram said “I don’t want to comment on the opposition,” adding, “But in Assembly, there is just a debate going on and unfortunately no solutions are being offered pertaining to the issues of unemployment, contract workers, agricultural crisis and several other issues which are matters of serious concern,” he expressed.

Responding to the state government refusing permission for the ‘Koluvulakai Koltlaka’ protest (fight for employment) which was scheduled for October 31, the TJAC chairman said, “The government is brazenly exhibiting its power. Today when the Honorable High Court had summoned the government to find out the reasons for denying permission to our meeting, they failed to come with a counter representation.”

Further reacting on the crass remarks made by KCR against Kodandram, he said, “It is unfortunate that being in a such high position and stature one is resorting to vulgarity.”

Both Kodandram and KCR who fought together for the creation of separate Telangana and shared a cordial relationship. After KCR assuming power, differences between the two grew and they split.

In fight against the government’s inability to provide jobs to the unemployed, Kodandram had conducted several programmes. He recently even joined in hands with all the political parties to protest against the formation of Farmers’ Coordination Committee.  

Sharply reacting to Kodandram’s moves, KCR had recently called him ‘mental’ ‘shameless’ and ‘intolerant’. The CM further said that Kodandram was playing cheap politics.