Rao, who hails from the flourishing Kapu community in coastal Andhra Pradesh, vows to fight for the inclusion of the Kapus in the backward list. (This particular Kapu group is not on the backward list, but in some areas, the Kapus do figure on the list).
The Dasari factor may actually turn out to be a thorn in chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's flesh. Naidu had antagonised the scheduled castes by trying to divide them in six groups—his key intention may have been to stop the better-off top layer of the scheduled castes from cornering all the benefits. Naidu also irked the backward classes when he tried to implement the Puttuswamy Committee recommendations, which had suggested that more categories be included to the list and the reservation percentage be increased beyond 53 per cent. On both occasions, the high court chided the TDP government on technical grounds and had said Naidu should have consulted the National Commission for Scheduled Castes before attempting to change the caste list and overshooting the 49 per cent reservation limit for the backward classes.
Dasari-baiters obviously see a motive in his poll gamble—senior Congress and TDP leaders even accuse him of being an overreacher. A senior TDP leader launched a scathing attack on Dasari: "With the success of one or two films, Dasari cannot dream of winning over the electorate like NTR, who was a phenomenon. Everyone cannot dream of becoming an NTR. Can everyone be a Gandhi or a Nehru; a Kapil Dev or a Sunil Gavaskar?"
An element of doubt exists in Dasari's own plans. If he contest all of Andhra's 42 Lok Sabha seats, as was initially said, he can pose a stiff challenge to the Congress and the TDP in his core areas. On the other hand, there were signs that he may refrain from jumping into the fray straightaway because of the muddled political scenario and mark his time till the assembly elections, due next year.
Naidu has other worries. The deteriorating law and order situation in north Telengana, for one. More than 1,500 PWG activists have been killed in alleged "fake" encounters ever since he took over the reins of power 26 months ago. The PWG factor plays a major role in this region. Any party which has seemingly softened its stand vis-a-vis the Naxals derives maximum benefit—it usually emerges the winner—in districts like Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad and Adilabad. Best examples: the dramatic Congress victory in 1989 and the TDP sweep in 1983 and 1994.
In Telengana, the Congress, which had expected to gain thanks to the Naxal out-fit's increasing antipathy towards the TDP, has now received a setback with Dasari's entry. Of the 14 seats in the region, the Congress won six in 1996. Sources close to Dasari claim that he is likely to rope in famous balladeer Gaddar to campaign.
Only, Gaddar will definitely have to look away if Dasari decides to align with the BJP. But, if Dasari decides otherwise and fights alone, then Gaddar's presence will help his party cut into the TDP and Congress vote banks. Of course, there is a big question mark on whether Gaddar will actually take the field to garner votes, particularly in the wake of a near-fatal attack on him and his suspension from the PWG.
For the moment, Dasari is keeping his cards close to his chest. Significantly, he has never publicly denounced the BJP as a communal party. To queries on whether he will tie up with the BJP, Dasari retorts: "If the BJP is communal, how did the party win so many seats in the last Lok Sabha elections?" The BJP state leadership hasn't left any stone unturned to woo Dasari. It has extended an open invitation to him to lead the "Third Front"—an alternative to the Telugu Desam and the Congress—which the BJP feels should be led by the Telugu Talli.
Dasari may make an impact in coastal Andhra—the Kapus have a large presence here. The TDP, which won seven out of 20 seats in the last elections, hasn't really been able to consolidate its position. But his presence is unlikely to be a big factor in faction-ridden Rayalaseema, where the dominant Reddys who owe allegiance to the Congress have closed ranks. Of the eight seats in the region, the TDP won five last time.
Interestingly, Dasari's entry into the fray has divided the Telugu film fraternity. Many filmstars, who had earlier campaigned for the TDP, are likely to keep out of the electioneering altogether this time.
Political analysts feel that the Dasari factor may work wonders in the state only if Naidu's bete noir, M. Mohan Babu, expelled Rajya Sabha member, joins hands with his mentor. In November, in a blast in a film studio in Hyderabad, actor-politician Mohan Babu escaped with minor injuries. One finger of suspicion had pointed at the TDP itself because of his strident attacks against Naidu. But what may stop Mohan Babu from joining Dasari is the anti-defection Act.
For the first time, the erstwhile Congress bastion may witness multi-cornered contests. In the last Lok Sabha polls, there was a straight TDP-Congress fight, with Lakshmi Parvathi's NTRTDP relegated to the background. With a majority of disgruntled Congressmen and TDP activists waiting for the list of candidates before crossing floors, Dasari boasts his party could well be the first force.
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