New Delhi/Hyderabad: India's 29th state Telangana is now almost a reality. The new state will come into existence, once Parliament clears it, most likely in the coming winter session. Political parties from both Telangana and Seemandhra are making noise just to make their presence felt. They know that they should be louder than the loudest in an all important election year.
Ironically, the biggest beneficiary of the Telangana decision is the YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy. He is in the forefront of anti-Telangana agitation. But, the bifurcation of the state is expected to yield rich political dividends for him. He is the one who forced the Congress to decide on Telangana.
In a triangular contest between the YSRCP, Congress and TDP, Jagan is most likely ride to power. He is now shouting louder than the loudest to cement his position as the sole advocate of united Andhra and the saviour of Seemandhra people.
TRS chief K Chandrashekhara Rao has achieved what he wanted. But, he can't celebrate his greatest victory. He is in a dilemma over whether to merge his party with the Congress as promised earlier or retain its identity to fill the opposition space in the new state of Telangana. His daughter Kavitha has already embarked upon a 10-day tour of Telangana as a part of Bathukamma Festival (a Telangana specific festival celebrated during the Dasara) to gauge the public mood and to mobilise support for her father's party.
Even KCR's rivals admit that the credit of achieving Telangana should go to him. He almost singlehandedly revived a dead movement and has taken it to its logical end.
The Congress, which has lost the Seemandhra to Jagan, is now trying to get 100 per cent credit for creating Telangana, hoping to sweep the new state in the next Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
The embattled TDP chief, N Chandrababu Naidu, appears to be the biggest loser in this battle. He is viewed with suspicion in Telangana and seen as a betrayer in Seemandhra. He is also facing a very serious internal rebellion from the NTR family. In his last major political battle, he may go with the BJP to win whatever he can.
People in Seemandhra have also realised that the new state of Telangana will come into existence irrespective of what they do or say.
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