Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao has been facing a tough time ever since the Telangana State RTC employees served notices, announcing an indefinite strike from June 11 demanding a hike in their salaries.

Harish Rao, being an honorary President Of Telangana Majdoor Union (TMU) which served the strike notice, is caught between the government and the union. While Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has warned the union to withdraw its stir, Harish is yet to hold a meeting to convince the union members.

Though the union leaders are insisting Harish to fight on their behalf against the government, the minister is maintaining silence as he will face KCR’s ire at this juncture. KCR has already asked the RTC employees to not support the strike called by the union headed by Harish.

Leaders said the only option before Harish is to quit his post in the union to avoid embarrassment from the government and also the union, before the employees go on an indefinite strike.

Elections are less than a year ahead. Speculations of media, assumptions of people, calculations of political parties are taking off from their runways.It is known that a few weeks ago Pawan Kalyan announced that he is going to contest from all 175 assembly constituencies in 2019 elections. But some sources speculate that all that it needs is huge financial funding to crack this mission of 175 constituencies. But who is going to fund? Will the contestants be so confident to invest by themselves in all 175 constituencies?

Inside sources say that a rich Kapu realtor is behind Pawan Kalyan all these years, meeting the expenses of Janasena office. There are a few other businessmen as well. Other sources say that BJP is also behind funding. But to sum up, the funding gets pumped in as long as Janasena sounds promising enough to capture considerable number of constituencies to play power game.

On the other hand, there is an assumption that YSRCP may get into an alliance with Janasena. Though there are no direct talks regarding this, the inside sources from YSRCP say that a possible alliance may happen down the line with Janasena if they feel that latter becomes definitely crucial in splitting TDP votes in key constituencies. But the same sources also revealed that Jagan is not at all interested in such an idea as he feels it’s not required.

A few from YSRCP are in second thought about this possible alliance citing the example of Karnataka. Though JD got lesser number of seats when compared to Congress, it’s JD’s candidate who became the Chief Minister at last. So, YSRCP bigwigs are not willing to see such situation with their ambitious possible alliance with Janasena.

Let us see what is in store as we approach the election season.

Hindupur MLA and actor Balakrishna has breathed fire on the BJP and its allied parties. Fuming at the Nava Nirmana Deeksha event, Balayya demanded Narendra Modi to fulfill the promises he had made to the people of Andhra Pradesh in the presence of Lord Venkateswara in Tirupati.

He said Modi had promised the Andhra people that a world-class capital would be built in Amaravati, but he has not kept his word. Balayya warned Modi that anyone who cheats people after promising in front of Tirumala Venkateswara would not survive.

Balayya gave a call to people to look after the parties that are indirectly backing the BJP. He even cracked satires on Pawan Kalyan’s Janasena albeit not directly. Referring to JSP, Balayya described it as ‘Thala, Thoka, Thondam Leni’ Party which instantly got claps from the crowd. Without taking Janasena party name, Balayya said, “Several political parties without any head, body or tail are sprouting. I urge all of you to teach a strong lesson to such parties.”

Balayya didn’t even spare Opposition YSR Congress party. He said, “Andhra Pradesh state has incurred loss due to the bifurcation. Yet, the Centre is not at all supporting the new state that is struggling. Still not a single word is uttered by YSR Congress Party leaders. This exposes them.”

Lack of a strong Opposition in Telangana is a fact which can’t be disputed. Neither Congress nor the weakened TDP could dare to take on KCR. In addition to it, KCR’s hard stand against media initially including banning of TV9 and ABN have sent a strong signals to media forcing them to restrict to a soft or neutral stand against the TRS government.

Unlike in AP where Opposition parties fume over AP state government for every other reason irrespective of its facts, the situation in Telangana is more calm and peace. It’s all the show of KCR, KTR and Harish Rao. The TRS government is of the feeling that ‘all is well’.

However, the recent surveys conducted by KCR by various agencies said to have brought out the reality. The result of all the surveys are almost same, say the sources in the know. Especially in rural parts, the TRS is said to be going through a rough phase. Most of its MLAs in rural region are said to be facing a negative wave. It is learnt that nearly 40 MLAs are having opposition in people. Buzz also has it that a lot of those MLAs are deeply rooted in corruption and leaving people to last. KCR told them on face that all the reports that he got are against to them and they are in danger zone. The reports pointed out that there is a steep opposition against senior MLAs particularly in in the Northern Telangana where the TRS is strong.

Disappointed with the performance of the 40 MLAs, KCR told to have asked them to change their working style immediately. KCR cautioned them that would not get tickets to contest unless they work in people and their constituency. In the 40, KCR reportedly telephoned to the MLAs who are close to him personally and asked them to mend their ways. Whereas KTR and Harish Rao have called to the rest of the MLAs who are close to them respectively and asked them to work effectively or else told them to face the consequences.

Realisation seems to have dawned on Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya that she has no other political alternative but to stay back in the Telugu Desam Party, if she wants to sustain her political future.

There have been reports in the recent past that Akhila had tried to send feelers to the YSR Congress party to make a return to that party, in the wake of suffocating situation prevailing in the TDP on account of her rival within the party A V Subba Reddy.

The local TDP leaders even went to the extent of alleging that she was recommending contracts of various works to the YSRC leaders including Katasani Rambhupal Reddy.However, it appears there was no response from the YSRC leadership. On the other hand, TDP president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu adopted a patient approach, despite complaints from the party leader against her.

As a result, Akhila has started making efforts to prove her loyalty to the TDP. Though she did not take active part in the recently held Mahanadu, she is now conducting the Nava Nirmana Deeksha with all seriousness.On this occasion, she told the media that she had no plans whatsoever to quit the TDP.“The TDP has given me a new political life and made me a minister. I will contest the next assembly elections from Allagadda on TDP ticket only. I will win the seat and gift it to Naidu garu,” she said.

Senior actor and former MLA of BJP Kota Srinivasa Rao has made interesting comments on Pawan Kalyan’s political career. Stating his opinion that politics is not compatible for film stars, Kota advised Pawan to stay away from politics and told him that the political environment is not adjustable for filmy people.

Kota asked Pawan to learn from the experience of his big brother Chiranjeevi who returned to films. He even said he himself has quit politics after understanding that there is too little for an actor to do or to digest the atmosphere.

In an interview to a TV channel, Kota made his opinion clear, “Why do actors need politics? Even I quit politics. Do you think I am mad to do so?” He even drew the examples of Chiru, Rajini. “See Rajini neither says he is coming into politics, nor does he say he is not coming. Even he is thinking a lot,” said Kota.

Kota had been in BJP for very longtime. He even served as MLA from Vijayawada East.