Prof Kodandaram: The Pivotal Figure Behind Telangana’s Prajakutami

Professor Kodandaram is the man behind the grand alliance in Telangana, opposing K Chandrashekar Rao.

Muddasani Kodandaram was expected to join politics in 2014, after he successfully led the mass students' agitation for a separate state of Telangana, alongside K Chandrashekar Rao.

The former professor at Osmania University in Hyderabad, is credited with uniting the various stakeholders in Telangana and acting as a guiding force during the struggle for separate statehood.

“If Telangana people’s aspirations, for which they fought, are not realised, then I will step in again. If the TRS is smart, it won’t let such a situation arise,” the professor had told The Indian Express in 2014.

However, in four years, a lot has changed – from his relationship with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) to his foray into mainstream politics.

BRINGING TOGETHER THE PRAJAKUTAMI

The professor who floated his own party – Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) in April 2018 – replortedly played a 'pivotal' role in bringing together key Opposition parties under the Prajakutami to take on the TRS government. The 'Prajakutami' simply translates to 'People's Alliance'. It is the grand alliance of Telangana, including the Congress, Telugu Desam Party, CPI and his own TJS.

According to The Indian Express, it was Kodandaraman who floated the idea of an alliance between Opposition parties in the state and played a role in "strengthening the bond between them."

Speaking to the daily in 2018, Kodandaram said, until the Prajakutami was formed, people did not consider an “alternative” to KCR-led TRS.

He added that people appreciated the approach of the alliance, especially the approach to "what, how and by when the alliance government will go about fulfilling the aspirations of people”.

WHY POLITICS NOW

While Kodandaram's political plunge seems to be a long-thought one, the primary reason, an article in The Hindu argues is because he was "sidelined by KCR post-2014." The political science professor reportedly studied models of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) before he launched his own party.

The article, quoting critics, says that the professor has turned against KCR because he was not "suitably rewarded" after the state of Telangana was formed. However, the article also pointed that Kodandaram's influence was thinly spread across 10 districts of the state and is reportedly confined to the student community and activists.

Reiterating his criticism against the TRS government, Kodandaram said:

“TRS failed to fulfil even its own election promises and has let Telangana people down. Instead of focusing on welfare of people, TRS leaders are working for their own benefits. No questions from people are tolerated. In the villages and rural areas, people have started referring to TRS as ‘Doralu’ (landlords) and ‘Doralu palem’ (rule of landlords). Before creation of Telangana state, TRS was not projected or protected by media.”

Kodandaram to The Indian Express

However, it remains to be seen if Kodandaram holds sway – with eight seats allotted to his party – and whether the Prajakutami can fight the TRS when the state goes to polls on 7 December.

(With inputs from The Hindu, The Indian Express.)