Telangana Hero or luck by chance

Media has undoubtedly become the most powerful instrument in achieving one's target. This has been proved by recent Die-Unto-Death fast of Mr. K Chandrasekhar Rao. He formed a party seeking the opportunity that there was no one actively supporting the cause of Telangana statehood however without gaining any significant success on the ballot box. He joined NDA in 2009 general election assuming that NDA will come to power this time when the lost, KCR found himself neglected, marginalized.

He decided to go on fast. He knew in Indian history only two people have died of hunger strikes. He was sure that he, an MP, though not important in forming government but having enough support, would not be allowed to die of hunger strike. It was planned. Well, many of the fasts are planned so it was not unusual. What is unusual is the success of his fast. A fast for only eleven days gave him, or the people of Telangana, assurance that they will have their separate state. The kind of support he got for his fast was unprecedented. If he really had such a huge support then why his party won only two seats in general elections 2009? If he was Telangana Hero he could have wiped out all other parties from Telangana region. It did not happen.

Success of his fast lies in two factors. First, there was no effective government in Andhra. After the unfortunate death of YSR, Andhra Congress, ruling party in the state is divided and many of them were not supporting the K Rosaiah as chief minister of the state. In fact, he himself must feel obliged to the central congress leadership for the post. He has been a politician for so long in the state, he must know that if the situation not handled properly, it might become law and order situation. But he did, could, not stop this. He failed and KCR become too big for him to touch after a few days.

Second is the media. Media supported KCR immensely. He became darling of the media. All the day, 24X7, media was projecting his pictures. People and students, who already feel they are discriminated against Telugu people, only need little ignition to turn state into fire zone. That is what happened.

Fast in itself is useless if the other party is not weak or ready to listen. That is what happening with Irom Sharmila. She is never shown on any national TV or even regional TV channels. She is fasting for last nine years and no one listen to her because Manipur is a tiny Indian state. It is not important for national politics. It does not give many MPs, why care? Is this how a democracy is suppose to run? There are question marks, only time will answer if non-violence is always effective tool. or there will be one Jatindra Nath Das or Potti Sreeramulu.