NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Congress pays its debt to Dasari Narayana Rao

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

In picking noted Telugu film-maker Dasari Narayana Rao as its candidate for the forthcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh, the Congress has rewarded one of its ardent supporters.

Dasari has been with the party for the last 16 years or so. A vociferous critic of the Telugu Desam Party, whether under N T Rama Rao or N Chandrababu Naidu, the versatile film-maker has actively campaigned for the Congress in successive elections.

Dasari has also enjoyed a good rapport with former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao and is also close to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The state Congress leaders have always wooed him, seeking to project him as the most powerful personality from the numerically dominant Kapu community in coastal Andhra.

For quite some time now, Dasari too has toyed with the idea of joining active politics. In 1995-96 he decided to start a party of his own. He did all the spadework for launching the party on the eve of the 1996 Lok Sabha polls and even chose the name for the party (Telugu Talli) and the venue for the launch - Lal Bahadur Stadium. However, he developed cold feet at the last-minute and called off his plans.

Apparently, he was persuaded by the Congress top-brass not to take any step which would jeopardise the Congress interests in Andhra Pradesh.

The Kapunadu leadership has sought to identify itself with Dasari Narayana Rao projecting him as a symbol of this caste group's aspirations.

During the 1989 elections, when the Kapunadu movement was at its peak riding a wave of anti-TDP sentiments, the noted film-maker campaigned for the Congress in simultaneous elections to the State Assembly and the Lok Sabha. He went round almost 100 assembly constituencies and lambasted N T Rama Rao in election meetings.

Again, in 1999, when the state witnessed simultaneous elections, Dasari went round 80 assembly constituencies mounting a virulent attack on Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu.

He also tried to organise the Kapu community against the TDP in the coastal districts.

By offering a Rajya Sabha ticket to him now, the Congress has expressed its gratitude to him for all the help.

Kapunadu leader Miryala Venkat Rao says: "The Congress has done justice to the state by giving a Rajya Sabha ticket to Dasari. Many of his followers and fans are very happy over this decision of the Congress. The Kapu community is also overjoyed for the honour bestowed on Dasari."

"He worked for the Congress in 1989 polls and was instrumental in bringing the party back to powe. This time also he worked hard and helped improve the Congress strength in the assembly," Miryala Venkata Rao points out.

But will Dasari's formal entry into politics and his election to the Rajya Sabha signify the arrival of the Kapus on the political scene of Andhra Pradesh with a bang?

Not at all, says a ruling Telugu Desam Party leader. First, the Kapus are concentrated in a handful of districts. Second, they dominate the political scene in only a few districts. Also, the Kapus are a divided lot politically with only one section of the community supporting the Congress.

"At the most, Dasari's elevation to the Rajya Sabha will be a personal honour for him. The dreams of any community to dominate others will not fructify in Andhra Pradesh. Don't you remember what happened to Praja Nadu party floated by some TDP dissidents before they crossed over to the Congress in 1989? Where is the Andhra Nadu Party floated by former director-general of police M V Bhaskar Rao who belongs to the Kapu community?" says the TDP leader.

While Kapunadu leaders are elated over Dasari's selection to represent the state in Rajya Sabha, many among the 20-odd aspirants for Congress tickets are not quite happy over the turn of events.

EARLIER REPORT
Dasari gets Congress ticket for RS

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report