The tussle between Arekapudi Gandhi and Padi Kaushik Reddy turned ugly in Hyderabad. What was supposed to be the issue between the two MLAs gradually took the color of regions and castes.
It has triggered the discussion of the Kamma and Reddy rivalry which is going on in Andhra Pradesh and has spread to Telangana as well.
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Kammas and Reddys are the two dominant castes in Andhra Pradesh Politics. Traditionally, there is always a gap between some communities. But then, if we go back into history, there is no evidence of any such rivalry between both communities.
In fact, both communities are never dominant in a single area and so, there is no issue of spats between them.
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In areas where they existed together, they always had no issues.
Politics led to the tussle between both communities. Congress always groomed itself as a Reddy Party in Telangana. Kammas were in Congress and Communist Parties as well and co-existed with the Reddy Community.
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Even after NT Ramarao floated the Telugu Desam Party, Kammas were in all parties including Congress.
But then, the grand old party tried and succeeded in giving Kamma color to the TDP to build a narrative.
It has become worse after the Bifurcation with Jagan playing the caste card aggressively using I-PAC strategies.
The spat between Arekapudi Gandhi and Padi Kaushik Reddy was initially an issue between the two MLAs.
Kaushik Reddy gave an ugly turn to it by calling Gandhi an ‘Andhrodu’.
He stated that Gandhi came from Andhra and was looking to do politics in Telangana.
Factually, Gandhi(2014) was earlier with TDP before moving to BRS and winning the Serilingampally seat twice (2018, 2023). He has now joined Congress and suddenly became ‘Andhrodu’.
Immediately after that, a section of BRS leaders and the party’s social media warriors also tried to give the same spin and even tried to instigate the Kamma community.
Probably, the BRS is trying to instigate Telangana sentiment but then this is a surprising development.
After the bifurcation, the BRS definitely gained in the areas where the Andhra settlers are in majority including the areas where the Kamma community is in majority.
Even in the recent election where the BRS lost, Congress could not open its account in the GHMC area indicating the settlers and the Kamma community rallied with the BRS.
But BRS believes the TDP and the Kamma voters supported Congress in the elections after Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest and so, the anger on Gandhi and the anger on the community in the name of Gandhi.
But then, one would wonder if it is the right strategy with the GHMC elections coming next.
Also, it isn’t very likely that BRS can once again ignite the Telangana sentiment.
However, the rivalry between the two communities if fostered like this would be dangerous to Telangana’s social fabric.
