Words of guidance

My dear Jagan

It’s been a year since I left your world and I have been watching the events unfold since then, particularly the souring relationship between you and the party. I thought it’s my responsibility as your father to share my views with you and hence this letter.

Before I go further, let me preface this letter by saying I was much like you in the early years of my political life — heading a faction of party MLAs from Rayalaseema and branded as a permanent dissident who took on whoever was the chief minister. My loyalty to the party was always questioned and I was, therefore, denied high positions. In 1999, two decades after I entered politics, I thought my time had finally come but I tasted defeat at the hands of Chandrababu Naidu. It taught me a lesson: I had to become acceptable to the people across the state and to all sections of the party. I still remember an observation a reporter made to me before the 2004 election results were announced. “You seem to be more patient than you were all through your life.” I pointed to myself and said: “It is the result of the beatings I received on various occasions.”

We romped home with a massive margin but the fundamental point I realised then was that the party is always supreme and no individual is bigger than the party. In 2003, after I finished my 68-day-long padayatra from one end of the state to the other, there was a suggestion from some within the party that there was no future for me in the Congress and it was time I broke away and cashed in on  the public support. A survey was commissioned. It showed that there was resentment against Naidu, a majority backed the Congress but only 8-10 per cent said they would vote for me as an individual without a party label. That meant any hasty step by me would only benefit the Telugu Desam. The plan was abandoned and I decided to stick to the party come what may and it paid off: We reaped the benefits of being in power for six long years before god took me away.

If you ask me to state one simple reason for my success as chief minister, it is the unflinching loyalty I had for 10, Janpath. That helped me run the state in the manner in which I liked — as you know, I virtually had a free run irrespective of all the bad things the media wrote about me. You may argue that if Rahul Gandhi can derive benefit from dynasty politics, why can’t you? But then Sonia would say that you have to first gain experience before aspiring for positions, just as she is making it appear that Rahul has been put on the learning mode before he is handed over the reins. The other thing you should remember is that no national party, whether Congress or BJP, would allow regional leaders to challenge the leadership. See what they are doing to our dear friends, the Reddy brothers in Karnataka, by creating hurdles in their mining business to whittle down their financial clout.

Here again, I should tell you some instances to buttress my point about how important loyalty is. Even after coming to power, I never allowed any of my posters to be bigger than that of Sonia Gandhi or Rahul. But today I find that numerous statues of mine are being installed in almost every village, dwarfing even those of Mahatma Gandhi or Dr Ambedkar. I somehow get a sense this will give negative results. After all, while people would be willing to give me credit for running varied welfare schemes, they would also point out that the money for the same came from government coffers and not from our personal wealth. Another example from another occasion. When Sonia Gandhi was invited to inaugurate a big hospital in our home town, the plaque carried only her name. A close aide pointed out that my name should also be there because I was the chief minister. I told him: “It’s none of your business.” He suggested it out of affection for me but I had my own reasons for not having my name on the plaque. Likewise, another aide found it amusing that I waited for almost an hour at Vizag airport (sitting in the car) for Rahul Gandhi to arrive for a public meeting. “What’s this, sir? You are the CM and why should you wait for someone who is just an MP” he asked. I warned him in the harshest language that it was the last time I would hear such a comment. Rahul is the future leader of the Congress and we better realise it.

Why do you think I have named almost every scheme or project after someone in the Gandhi family? Look at Rajiv Arogyasi, Indiramma housing and Rajiv Udyoga Sri — welfare schemes devised by me but named after the family members. Despite stiff opposition, I ensured that the international airport at Shamshabad was named after Rajiv Gandhi. Mind you, this realisation dawned on me because of the lessons that I learnt in my  political life during which I was so badly battered, financially and otherwise, that at one stage I almost gave up. Ultimately, it was the party that brought me glory and everything else that one could look for.

As everyone knows, Andhra Pradesh helped the Congress emerge stronger in the 2009 elections by sending as many as 33 MPs from one state. I called on Sonia Gandhi and as I was walking out, I saw a battery of mediapersons waiting for my soundbites. Quietly, I slipped out lest an impression be created that I was trying to take the credit for the victory. But now I find some cronies shouting slogans that they will not rest till they see you as CM. They are just trying to gain something from you and you shouldn’t be swayed by what they say.

Before I wind up, let me convey my sadness that the persons who were closest to me and who stood by me through thick and thin, are no longer guiding you. They feel unwanted. Always remember: Only a few will be with you irrespective of what you are. For the rest, whether it be MLAs

or MPs, permanent loyalty does not exist: they would see which side of the bread is buttered and behave accordingly, just

as many have already done now. Wait for your time and know that the party needs you just as much as you need the party. It’s difficult to grow in politics but very easy to wither away.

Wishing you a bright future,

Your loving father.

Y S Rajasekhara Reddy

vasu@expressbuzz.com