Telangana student leaders ignored, plan to contest as independent candidates
HYDERABAD: They were in the forefront of the Telangana movement for over four years, but when it comes to securing seats of leading political parties for the ensuing general elections, they are lagging behind.
The student leaders of various Telangana JACs are running around the party offices of major political parties, the TRS, the Congress and the TD for tickets. However, their candidature is not being considered seriously by parties.
Over 35 Telangana student leaders are aspiring for Assembly seats. Barring OUJAC leader Pidamarthi Ravi, who was assured of a TRS ticket, none of the other leaders were successful in their endeavour so far. Tired of running around party offices, several student leaders are planning to contest as independent candidates.
Student leaders argue that they have every right to seek tickets and be part of rebuilding of Telangana state, since they had sacrificed their lives and career for the cause by taking part in the Telangana movement for over four years, and still are facing hundreds of police cases.
They say that the Centre took a decision in favour of Telangana state in December 2009 bowing to intense student protests in universities of the region, especially Osmania and Kakatiya and the December nine announcement, made by the then Union home minister P. Chidambaram, formed the basis for the creation of Telangana state later.
They demand that all parties allot at least 20 per cent of the seats to students and to families of students who committed suicide for the cause of Telangana state (martyr families), which amounts to nearly 23 seats from each party. However, the TRS remains the only party so far which has assured to allot three to four seats to students and martyr families.
TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao had recently assured that his party will field OUJAC leader Pidamarthi Ravi for Assembly seat, without specifying any particular constituency, though Mr Ravi has been pitching for the Vikarabad (Nalgonda) or Sathupally (Khammam) constituencies. This prompted several other student leaders to approach the heads of all major political parties seeking tickets.
The last phase of Telangana agitation reached its peak only after students in OU and KU campuses revolted in November 2009 which led to police firing on students. The movement spread like wildfire throughout the Telangana region only after these incidents with people across all sections coming on to streets demanding a Telangana state.
Politicians joined the agitation later fearing public wrath. Now that the Telangana state is going to be a reality, it’s the students who deserve utmost priority in the allotment of party tickets than any other section, said Mr Ravi.
Karate Raju, student leader of TSJAC, who is aspiring for the Kalwakurthy Devarakadra Assembly seat, said, “Telangana state is the result of sacrifices made by students. It is the responsibility of all political parties to see that the students get due recognition in the allotment of tickets and ensure their active participation in the rebuilding of Telangana state as legislators.”
However, the heavy competition for tickets among students is also leading to tussle among caste lines.
After the TRS assured Mr Ravi of an Assembly ticket, others started making allegations against him and Mr Rao for trying to project OUJAC and TSJAC as their ‘branches’ just by allotting a lone seat.
These student organisations are not the branches of any political party. Just by allotting 1-2 seats, if they think that they can garner the support of all the students, it’s foolishness. A justifiable share of seats has to be allotted to the students and families of martyrs, said Errolla Srinivas, a student leader.
