The politics of padayatra seems to have not left the Telugu speaking state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Though the padayatras help the leaders to connect with the ground level people, are these leaders really concerned about the problems at ground level? Or is this politics of walking just a gimmick to attract and win over the people?
The states of AP and Telangana have witnessed padayatras that have toppled the ruling governments, while giving power to the leaders who have taken up the walk. Maybe this continues to inspire new comers as well. The latest to join the arena of padayatras for politics is Sharmila, the leader of YSR Telangana Party and daughter of erstwhile AP Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
In fact the art of going to people started much before YS Rajasekhara Reddy. It was during Nehru era followed by Indira Gandhi and later Rajiv Gandhi. Though these leaders didn’t walk they took up whirlwind tours across the country to meet the people, understand their problem and win their hearts. Later film star-turned-politician NT Rama Rao went on his Chaitanya Ratham and created a record of sorts by capturing power within 11 months of starting a new party called Telugu Desam
Party (TDP).
But the sensational padayatra that pulled N Chandrababu Naidu out of power was that taken up by YSR. He took up the state wide walk in 2003 and developed a bond with the people that continued till his last breath. In 2004, YSR became the Chief Minister. This phenomenal success later prompted his son YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to take up padayatra in divided AP. In fact he also got very good response among the people and was able to dethrone Chandrababu Naidu once again and become the CM.
Keeping these track records in mind, now it is the turn of YS Sharmila to take up a padayatra in Telangana state. She will be starting her walk today from the place where her father started his walk, Chevella. Sharmila will be walking around 4,000 kilometres and cover 16 constituencies in the state. It is said that she will be walking around 12 kilometre per day. Critics of Sharmila call this a political gimmick.
But what is Sharmila up to? Does she find space for a fourth party in Telangana political landscape? Many senior leaders across all parties feel already Telangana politics is crowded and there is no scope for new party. “We have already seen what has happened to Prof Kodandaram. Despite he enjoying very good respect from all quarters, politically he is a non-starter. Moreover the feeling of local and non-local is already across the state and people are still to accept Sharmila as Telangana bidda,” said senior political analyst in Hyderabad.
Will have to wait and watch if sharmila’s walk will iron out all the negatives that are surrounding her political career and emerge victorious!