Congress sets eyes on 2014 elections

Hyderabad: There is a general perception that the Congress high command has snubbed Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy by not acceding to his proposal for wider changes in the State Cabinet at the moment.

But the perception takes into account group politics at the state level, while disregarding the AICC's possible intentions and long term plans behind taking a particular decision. In this context they are the coming general elections in two years.

It is obvious that Kiran Kumar, who has been fancying seeing himself continue in the present position beyond the next Assembly polls, is making every effort to assert his position. Shaping up his own groups among the ministers and in the party, besides a public constituency, is necessary for the purpose. Cabinet reshuffles have always been a time-tested instrument in this kind of power politics.

Following this tradition, Kiran Kumar, who is perceived to be out of his initial tentativeness in administrative as well as political matters by now, has become confident enough to push his case for a 'larger reshuffle' with the high command in recent months. If permitted, he wants to reward his loyalists and punish adversaries to strengthen his personal clout.

However, whenever he made an attempt, he had to come back empty-handed from Delhi. Despite knowing the leadershp's position well, this time he made one last strong effort, rushing to Delhi at the eleventh hour before inducting Chiranjeevi's men into the ministry.

When the Chief Minister left for Delhi, expectations were running high in political circles here that his lobbying would pay off despite the fact that the AICC General Secretary in-charge of state affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad had obliquely, yet clearly, indicated more than once, in Delhi and Hyderabad that ministerial changes might not go beyond finding a place for the PRP candidates.

If the atmosphere turned pregnant with expectations despite such indications, it may be indicative of Kiran Kumar Reddy's perceived 'growing strength' in the eyes of partymen here. It is in the backdrop of such views and heightened expectations that the high command's refusal to the Chief Minister's seemingly high-pitched push is interpreted as a 'big snub' to him.

In fact, it was the CM himself who created such hype on the issue by his way of dealing with it. Maybe, taking a cue from Azad's earlier hints he could have waited for an opportune time, which he failed to do for reasons best known to him, causing some avoidable embarrassment to himself in the process.

Having said that, it is really difficult to see why the AICC should intend to snub its CM. It may be trying to balance the interests of different party groups and take everyone along in the run up to the next elections, which are raising several uncertainties to the party's prospects in the State.

Yet to be resolved are the Telangana issue, the unknown magnitude of Jaganmohan Reddy factor, TDP supremo Chandrababu's aggressive moves, coupled with the absence of a strong and popular leader for state Congress. These are all reportedly making the high command jittery.

The leadership has been saying it publicly in Delhi that the party could simply not afford to see things go wrong in a State that contributed the largest number of MPs in the last two elections and helped Congress gain power at the Centre. Retaining power in the state is another concern.

With such stakes high in the mind of the leadership, it cannot obviously mishandle a delicate situation. Safeguarding long term interests of the party is more important than 'strengthening' the position of Kiran Kumar Reddy, whom it has already been protecting against his adversaries.

Keeping these short and long term considerations in mind, the high command might have kept the CM's proposal for wider changes on hold once again.

This is seen as a setback to him, in popular perceptions. Then, with his known individualistic streak and new-found pushy ways he too may have invited it upon himself to some extent.