2004 Election Alliances – TRS and Congress
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) aimed at achieving a separate Telangana state since its formation in 2001. In the 2004 elections, TRS entered into an alliance with the Indian National Congress to strengthen the cause of Telangana.
On March 12, 2004, at a public meeting in Karimnagar, Congress president Sonia Gandhi assured the people that Congress respected the aspirations of Telangana and would work to fulfill their demand.
Election Results and TRS Performance:
In the presence of senior leader Pranab Mukherjee, the Congress agreed to allocate 42 assembly seats to TRS. The election results were significant:
- 26 Assembly seats won by TRS
- 5 Lok Sabha seats won by TRS
After the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power at the Centre, TRS joined the union cabinet. K. Chandrashekar Rao became the Minister for Shipping, and A. Narendra was allotted the Rural Development portfolio.
TRS in the State Cabinet:
TRS legislators who became ministers in Andhra Pradesh were:
- Y. Santosh Reddy
- Vijayrama Rao
- E. Chandrasekhar
- T. Harish Rao
- Nayani Narasimha Reddy
- Sri Lakshmi Kantarao
Kakinada Resolution (1998):
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), at its 1998 meeting in Kakinada, passed a resolution supporting the formation of smaller states. Its slogan was “One vote – Two states”, which boosted the Telangana movement.
UPA Decisions (2004):
On May 26, 2004, the UPA government included the Telangana issue in its Common Minimum Programme. On June 7, 2004, the President’s address to both Houses of Parliament stated that the Telangana issue would be considered at an appropriate time after due consultations.
TRS Protests and Public Mobilization (2004–2006):
- December 1, 2004 – A massive public meeting at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad.
- 2005 – “Telangana Jagarana” training programme for over 600 party workers in Hyderabad.
- February 12, 2006 – Polavaram Garjana meeting at Bhadrachalam opposing Polavaram Project.
- August 23, 2006 – KCR resigned from his ministerial post.
- August 25, 2006 – KCR launched an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. The strike was ended the same night when Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar offered him fruit juice.
Pranab Mukherjee Committee (2005):
To build a broad consensus on Telangana, the UPA government formed a sub-committee in 2005 under Pranab Mukherjee. Other members were Dayanidhi Maran and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.
The committee wrote letters to all political parties seeking their views. As many as 36 parties supported Telangana in writing.
Support for Telangana:
Former Prime Ministers like Deve Gowda, Chandra Shekhar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and I.K. Gujral openly supported Telangana.
Political Parties:
- 11 out of 13 UPA allies supported Telangana
- 6 outside supporting parties also extended support
- 8 parties from the NDA alliance supported
- Independent members gave written consent
- Forward Bloc (3 members) expressed support
The Samajwadi Party remained neutral, while in October 2008 the TDP also submitted a report favoring Telangana. Congress, being the ruling party, stated it need not give a separate written response.
Significance of These Developments:
The period from 2004 to 2008 marked a turning point in the Telangana movement. The election alliances, the Kakinada resolution, the Pranab Mukherjee committee, and the TRS protests provided a strong political and social foundation for the eventual formation of the Telangana state in 2014.
Conclusion:
The 2004 election alliances, the Kakinada Resolution, and the Pranab Mukherjee Committee were landmark moments in the Telangana movement. These events strengthened the struggle for statehood and paved the way for the realization of Telangana.