When asked recently about the fact that in spite of his stiff opposition, the Congress was going ahead with bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, an avid cricketer, said that a match is not over till the last ball is bowled.
Nearly four months after the Congress Working Committee's (CWC) resolution to create Telangana state, the Andhra CM appears to be the last man standing against the bifurcation. Others around him who made lots of noise before and just after the CWC announcement have either reconciled or diluted their stand but Reddy has stood steadfast. He has, in fact, become more vocal and defiant in criticising his party for, what he sees as, creating a bigger problem to solve a smaller one.
Early this year, as things were coming to a boil on Telangana statehood, Reddy had maintained a wait and watch policy. He did not make menacing statements like other Congress MPs, MLAs and leaders, but conveyed his concerns to the party high command quietly. When Congress MLAs threatened to resign, it was the CM who persuaded them to stay put, assuring them that he would lead the fight.
The switch from this defensive posture to an outright offensive came following the CWC's "alacrity" in passing the resolution to create Telangana without discussing about or presenting a solution to vexing issues like water and power sharing, and education and employment opportunities.
With the high command refusing to entertain his opposition, Reddy has become more defiant and vociferous in airing his views. Despite the Telangana Bill looking set to be tabled in Parliament, he remains determined to fight it tooth and nail till the last. Last week, he made an exhaustive power-point presentation before the Group of Ministers on Telangana, emphasising why the state benefits by remaining united and what Telangana and Seemandhra stand to lose if divided.
The Congress high command should ponder over the fact that it is its own CM who is leading the opposition to Telangana now. While the main opposition party, the Telugu Desam Party, is reluctant to do anything out of concern about surviving politically in Telangana as well as Seemandhra, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was expected to put up a fight but can't do much because of court-imposed constraints. The BJP is showing it has developed second thoughts.
Nearly four months after the Congress Working Committee's (CWC) resolution to create Telangana state, the Andhra CM appears to be the last man standing against the bifurcation. Others around him who made lots of noise before and just after the CWC announcement have either reconciled or diluted their stand but Reddy has stood steadfast. He has, in fact, become more vocal and defiant in criticising his party for, what he sees as, creating a bigger problem to solve a smaller one.
Early this year, as things were coming to a boil on Telangana statehood, Reddy had maintained a wait and watch policy. He did not make menacing statements like other Congress MPs, MLAs and leaders, but conveyed his concerns to the party high command quietly. When Congress MLAs threatened to resign, it was the CM who persuaded them to stay put, assuring them that he would lead the fight.
The switch from this defensive posture to an outright offensive came following the CWC's "alacrity" in passing the resolution to create Telangana without discussing about or presenting a solution to vexing issues like water and power sharing, and education and employment opportunities.
With the high command refusing to entertain his opposition, Reddy has become more defiant and vociferous in airing his views. Despite the Telangana Bill looking set to be tabled in Parliament, he remains determined to fight it tooth and nail till the last. Last week, he made an exhaustive power-point presentation before the Group of Ministers on Telangana, emphasising why the state benefits by remaining united and what Telangana and Seemandhra stand to lose if divided.
The Congress high command should ponder over the fact that it is its own CM who is leading the opposition to Telangana now. While the main opposition party, the Telugu Desam Party, is reluctant to do anything out of concern about surviving politically in Telangana as well as Seemandhra, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was expected to put up a fight but can't do much because of court-imposed constraints. The BJP is showing it has developed second thoughts.
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