Jagan's Visakha Garjana vs PK's Praja Vani: Vizag braces for 'capital Kurukshetra'

VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam, renowned as a peace-loving progressive city, is likely to be on the boil on October 15, 2022 (Saturday) over the issue of three capitals for Andhra Pradesh. 'Calm before the storm' is, perhaps, the perfect description for the current mood in the city, two days ahead of the proposed agitations by the three major political parties.

The ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), on one side, and the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the fledgling Jana Sena of Pawan Kalyan, on the other, have chosen this port city as the 'Kurukshethra' to flex their muscles, cross swords and battle it out on the streets over this crucial issue.

By now, it has become evident that the three capitals issue will be at the core of the 2024 elections what with the YSRCP already declaring this as its poll plank. In an unambiguous tone, the ruling party tweeted on its official Twitter handle two days ago stating that it would go to polls with decentralisation of administrative power and creation of three capitals as its main agenda.

Now, what keeps Visakhapatnam on the boil? It all started with the YSRCP's call for holding a massive 'Visakha Garjana' rally to showcase and vindicate the popular mood in favour of the decentralisation of administrative power. Its Ministers, MLAs and MLCs, hailing from the North Andhra region, have been making a strong pitch for the establishment of Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital of Andhra Pradesh. For them, this is the best solution in sight to put the eternally neglected region on the path of development.

A few of them have either offered to resign or tendered 'symbolic resignations' to throw their weight behind the emotive issue and ensure Vizag as the administrative capital. Dharmana Prasada Rao, a key minister of Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy's cabinet, was the first to stir the hornet's nest by offering to resign and fight for the cause of Visakhapatnam and the region in general.

Soon, Karanam Dharmasri, the Chodavaram MLA, came up with a 'symbolic resignation' to champion the same cause. There were many others including former minister Avanthi Srinivas who too pledged to renounce their legislative posts, realising a massive potential in the issue to cement their position further in their respective pockets.

Also, the fact that Dharmasri submitted his resignation – though drafted in the prescribed format – only to the JAC convenor of the Visakhapatnam capital movement, and not to the Assembly Speaker revealed its true intentions. The idea of resignations was meant to make the TDP leaders, especially its elected representatives of the region, defenceless, given their party's open support to the pro-Amaravati campaigners.

Pro-Amaravati Maha Padayatra impact

Initially, it was seen as a counter offensive by the ruling party to take the wind out of the sails of the 'Amaravati to Arasavilli Maha Padayatra' of the Amaravati farmers, ahead of their entry into the North Andhra region.

The maha padayatra was part of the agitation that has been going on in the name of farmers for the retention of Amaravati as the only capital of the state. Even after crossing 1,000 days, the campaign failed to arouse any significant positive sentiment across the state including the Amaravati capital region. The accusation that the farmers' agitation was a mere smokescreen for the interests of realtors and some key TDP leaders including its chief Chandrababu Naidu has cast a big shadow on the genuinity of its intent.

Before the Amaravati to Arasavilli Maha Padayatra, the Amaravati campaigners also took out a similar foot march in the name of 'Nyayasthanam nundi Devasthanam Varaku' upto Tirumala, with an eye on drumming up support from the Rayalaseema region. As expected, the attempt fell flat on its face despite the hype and hoopla by a section of the media and the backing from the judiciary.

Interestingly, the Amaravati to Arasavilli initiative is also being organised only after it was cleared by the Andhra Pradesh High Court despite serious objections from the State Government. Unrelenting in their efforts, the Amaravati campaigners have been seizing every opportunity to keep their fight afloat and constantly remain in headlines. One such instance that was prominently highlighted by a few media houses favourable to them was the rousing reception they accorded to former Chief Justice of India N V Ramana in the past.

During one of his visits to Andhra Pradesh when he was in the highest constitutional position, the Amaravati agitators gave Justice Ramana a memorable floral welcome by showering flower petals on him.

YSRCP's final-kill tactic

Not happy with pushing the TDP onto the backfoot over its support to Amaravati at the expense of the North Andhra region, the YSRCP has decided to go for the jugular with the Visakha Garjana call for October 15. Though the JAC is the face of the movement spearheading the Visakha Garjana event, it's common knowledge that the ruling party was backing it with all its might. Expectedly, the party is leaving no stone unturned to put up a massive show of strength. The YSRCP feels that this would vindicate its stand and the popular mood to give their detractors a safe burial.

A few striking aspects of the proposed rally are perfectly in sync with YSRCP's ambitious approach over the issue in the recent past. Determined to muster maximum support to the YS Jaganmohan Reddy government' decision, the party leaders were reportedly making preparations to ensure a massive turnout, ranging anywhere between one lakh and one and a half lakhs of people, at the rally. If their plans turn out to be true, Visakhapatnam is set to witness a four-kilometre-long rally on October 15, winding through its streets. Starting from Ambedkar statue, it is scheduled to touch Andhra University before culminating on the Beach Road to present a grand spectacle.

Besides politicians, the rally will have an equal presence of intellectuals, social activists, businessmen, students and other prominent personalities to provide an all-encompassing view in favour of the sentiment.

TDP plans to neutralise sentiment

Not willing to take things lying low, the TDP has also planned a series of activities, mostly in the form of meetings, on the same day in Visakhapatnam in a desperate bid to counter the YSRCP-led onslaught. TDP's elected representatives and functionaries, both former and present, of the North Andhra districts, will hold deliberations in Visakhapatnam on October 15.

It is reported that a roadmap would be formulated on this occasion on how to neutralise the YSRCP impact and enlighten the masses on the reasons why their leader Chandrababu Naidu opted for Amaravati as the state capital. They also intend to highlight the slew of pioneering steps taken by Naidu to help Visakhapatnam transform into an industrial city and a potential IT hub in the making.

Pawan Kalyan intends to take YSRCP head-on

As if this was not enough, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan too has decided to make his presence felt on the same day in Visakhapatnam. He called for a 'Praja Vani' rally, which is expected to be more on the lines of a roadshow, to support the 'Amaravati as the only capital' cause in the melee of Visakha Garjana on October 15.

Often loathed for being a part-time politician, Pawan Kalyan has recently come out of his cocoon to lampoon the Visakha Garjana with a series of tweets. It was viewed as the mercurial leader's way of peppering the issue to create some hype to his Praja Vani rally. One is not sure if he is willing to wage the Amaravati battle on a long term, but he is certainly serious on getting a bus specially designed and built for his proposed Yatra across the state. Grapevine has it that his campaign vehicle would have striking similarities to the legendary Chaitanya Ratham (chariot) used by TDP founder NT Rama Rao in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.

Even though the TDP's programme for October 15 appears subdued, Pawan Kalyan's proposed roadshow is an act of open defiance and against the perceived popular mood in the region. This not only throws a gauntlet politically at the YSRCP but also runs straight in the face of the pro-Visakha campaigners.

This raises the prospect of a potential showdown, perhaps the first such instance on an issue as emotive as this and, that too, happening out in the streets. While it can throw up a huge law and order challenge to the law enforcement machinery, it is certain to keep the YS Jaganmohan Reddy administration on the edge as a certain pride is at stake given its firm stand on decentralisation of power.

Rumours are already flying thick and fast that the YSRCP government would be crushing the Jana Sena's pro-Amaravati attempt in Vizag with an iron fist while facilitating the 'Visakha Gharjana' to reign supreme on Saturday. Pawan Kalyan may also be taken into preventive custody which is exactly what the actor-turned-politician may be hoping for, in his quest for some sympathy that has been eluding him in the state.