Hyderabad: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, who completes three years in office as the Chief Minister of the state, on Monday, proved himself tough and earned a relatively clean image, but ultimately had to bow before the Telangana tide, which literally swept away both positive and negative impact created by the administration alike.
Ironically, the very selection of Kiran Kumar Reddy, a staunch integrationist, and a member from a loyal Congress family, as successor to veteran Konijeti Rosaiah, by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, was to tackle twin problems of Telangana statehood demand, and the growing influence of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy within the Congress, besides toning up the administration of the state which took a beating.
But Kiran Kumar Reddy could not contain both, he neither demonstrated his political skills nor provided any political plan to party high command in preventing them to look for other options in terms of gains in 2014 general elections.
Ultimately, Congress high command had thought that they better intervene and set things right before losing badly in elections, that has led to the decision on formation of Telangana state.
The decision on Telangana statehood, which has been hanging fire since 2004, but was only prevented by late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy during his tenure, again surfaced during Rosaiah's regime.
Though Kiran Kumar Reddy acclaimed the image of being tough and initially handled the Telangana-related law and order problems effectively, he failed in the political management of the Telangana situation or at least keeping the Telangana Congress leaders under check. His handling of the situation has earned wrath from his own party men.
Similarly, he had faced a bigger political challenge within the Congress, within four days of assuming the post of Chief Minister, by way of Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother Y.S. Vijayalakshmi, who decided to quit the Congress party to float another regional front.
Kiran Kumar Reddy was little known as a leader before becoming Chief Minister. He was just four time winner of Assembly which includes five year term as the Chief Whip and Assembly Speaker for less than two years.
But as Chief Minister he is now popular in the entire nation just because for the reason he turned out to be a hard critic of what Congress high command and Union Cabinet decision on creation of Telangana state.
He was given free hand in the formation of a new Cabinet team, but failed to take everyone along. By inducting veterans like Dr D.L. Ravindra Reddy and Dr P. Shanker Rao into the Cabinet, who were denied berths earlier, appeared to be a right choice, but ultimately proved wrong that he had to remove both of them unceremoniously.
All those believed to be his trusted confidants once, turned out to be his arch critics now.
The relations between Kiran Kumar Reddy and many ministers, including PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, are strained. He wanted to set some things right, particularly on Telangana front. He revived the Deputy Chief Minister’s post and offered it to Damodar Raja Narasimha.
He also appointed one as Advocate General, hailing from Telangana region, to correct the injustice done. But the relations between the Chief Minister and his Deputy were never cordial.
The AP High Court is ordering a CBI probe against illegal assets of Jagan Mohan Reddy and others including, few Congress ministers and leaders, who ultimately turned against the Congress and the government.
Kiran Kumar Reddy government kept mum before the High Court, in defending the Government’s Orders those were issued. This in a way put the Congress ministers too in soup along with Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Three ministers had to resign after CBI decided to chargesheet them. Another minister is waiting to appear before the CBI Court. There was a criticism within the Congress that the game plan to fix Jagan Mohan Reddy has indeed backfired against it.
The Congress party, under the stewardship of Kiran Kumar Reddy, did not make any impressive gains, in the bypolls, held during these years, except winning two Assembly seats.
But for the merger of Praja Rajyam of Chiranjeevi, which has 17 MLAs, Kiran Kumar Reddy government would have lost the power by now. However, Kiran Kumar Reddy government survived two No-Confidence Motions during his stint.
There are some good decisions too during the three year time. He was credited for giving the SC/ST Sub-Plan as well as the 'Bangaru Talli' the much needed statutory status.
He has also brought a mechanism to take care of the fee reimbursement scheme. He evolved Indiramma Baata, Amma Hastam (giving essential commodities at subsidised prices), and Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu (creation of employment to youth) and Rachchabanda to care of the welfare needs of the people.
He had also stated to the public as well as to the party high command that he is not going to preside over the division of state that is set to happen soon.
Kiran Kumar Reddy is now a commander without soldiers, a scheme to fix his opponents, a fighter for losing battles and a hard nut to crack as far as his staunch opposition to the division of the state.
