Politics often throws up Âpeculiar predicaments바카라nobody would agree more than TelanÂgana chief minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao. He led a protracted mass movement to carve out the state from Andhra Pradesh in 2014, but less than five years after taking charge as the first CM of TelanÂgana, KCR is facing his toughest challenge yet바카라an indefinite strike by the 50,000-odd employees of the Road Transport Corporation, an autÂonomous entity on the government바카라s watch. The hartal has put the entire fleet of state-run buses off the roads. But, instead of taking a conciliatory stand, KCR has been reportedly refusing to listen to the Âdemands of the striking staff. The transport employees demand pay parÂity with state government empÂloyees and health Âinsurance among other benefits. Also, more than 50,000 Ola and Uber cab drivers joined the strike Âdemanding regularisation of the ride-hailing industry.
The result is that KCR바카라s popularity has taken a severe beating since the strike began on October 5, with lakhs of commuters left at the mercy of auto-rickshaws and private transport services, which are reportedly charging exorbitant fares. Schools and colleges have been given an Âextended holiday. Business is down. All over, it바카라s gloom and pessimism this festive season.
There바카라s allegation that KCR is not even paying heed to the high court, which had dirÂected him to hold talks with the striking Âemployees. In fact, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has termed the strike a political conspiracy. 바카라It바카라s a deliberate Âattempt by opposition parties and leaders to tarnish KCR바카라s image,바카라 says senior TRS leader Palle Rajeshwar Reddy, adding that the chief minister had never promised during the movement for a separate Telangana that RTC would be given pay and perks matching state government employees바카라though opposition leaders say he did.
Officials contend that the government on KCR바카라s watch allocated about Rs 4,500 crore to help the loss-making RTC remain afloat. 바카라KCR ensured that the average salary of RTC Âemployees was around Rs 50,000,바카라 they say. 바카라But instead of appreciating KCR바카라s sincerity in Âaddressing their pay structure and welfare concerns, they chose to strike.바카라
According to CMO sources, the government will adhere to the deadline set by the high court to submit a detailed report on the strike by October 28. 바카라We are confident of convincing the court yet again that the striking eÂmployees바카라 rigid stand on merger (with the state government) as a pre-condition for talks was the reason for the government not taking any decision yet,바카라 Reddy adds.
But the joint action committee (JAC) spearheading the agitation refuses to back off. The JAC has announced a Âmassive show of strength on October 30 by mobilising a 4-lakh-strong crowd. Besides the transport workers, NGOs, teachers, the Osmania University student union and transporters affiliated to Ola and Uber have lent support to the rally, says JAC chief Ashwadham Reddy.
There바카라s political support as well. The Congress says KCR바카라s government is eyeing RTC바카라s properties worth crores of Ârupees, including hundreds of acres of prime land. 바카라KCR is Âdetermined to privatise the corporation with the ulterior motive of handing over prime properties to close aides,바카라 says Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, a senior Congress leader and former MP . There are allegations that some ministers were allegedly given plots owned by the corporation on lease for above 60 years at nominal rates.
The BJP, determined to unseat KCR as part of the party바카라s Mission South, says the CM is indulging in large-scale corruption. The party바카라s state spokesperson, Krishna SaaÂgar Rao, says: 바카라We will not spare KCR and his family for their sins against the state, Âincluding against RTC employees. He wants to rob them of their assets.바카라
For KCR, time is running out as he battles accusations of being a dictator/fascist. The BJP is breathing down his neck since the TRS lost seven Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections. Even daughter Kavitha lost from Nizamabad. How he handles this mounting crisis will determine his political future.
By M.S. Shanker in Hyderabad
