Kota Neelima 
The imagination of democracy is incomplete without opposition parties playing the role of constructive critics of governments. In practice, opposition plays this vital role to ensure that policy and governance of governments are in line with the constitutional agenda and principles, and the immediacy of public interest.
The positive contestation between the government and the opposition must take place not just in exclusive policy-making spaces, like parliamentary or legislative houses, but also in full public view, either through direct protest or through media. It constitutes a form of deliberative democracy, where the citizens can debate and choose a side that does not necessarily support the government. That is how the opposition can be a critic and, also be constructive in its approach.
I feel the Congress party has played the role of a strong opposition, highlighting the essence of democracy through informed and bold criticism of the government. The Congress had done this despite various and obvious attempts to silence its truth-telling on people’s behalf. In states like Telangana, the Congress was rewarded by the voters who appreciated and supported the people’s fight led by the party.
In comparison, the present opposition in the state, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, is diverted from its primary duty, and instead, has been subverted as a political tool by its top leaders. In this, the opposition in Telangana is an exception to the Indian imagination of democracy.
Recent political history has not been kind to regional parties that render themselves to narrow personal interests like, for instance, the BRS public relations exercise for former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and, his son, former minister, K.T. Rama Rao. This pushes the BRS on the path that proved to be detrimental to other such regional parties. Further, when political survival of one or two leaders is tied to the fate of a party, it neutralises other leadership within. This opens the doors for revolt, which would be not only much-awaited, but also fair.
Why is the BRS forcing itself on a path like this? There are three main reasons.
First, diversion. Every new government examines the policies of earlier government for continuity. Those with administrative experience will vouch for the importance of this step. In Telangana, this process also revealed the procedural and financial irregularities during the earlier BRS government. For example, the Formula-E race case, concerning K.T. Rama Rao.
Much grandstanding was done by him to establish that he was being victimised and targeted. But the investigative agencies are merely following their constitutional mandate of rule of law and equality before law. This is evident to the people of Telangana. Despite this, and unfortunately for other BRS leaders and cadre, most of the opposition action has been to divert attention from this case.
Second, damage control. Major projects like Rs 1.47 lakh-crore Kaleshwaram irrigation project had developed problems before, endangering the very structure of the dams. Pet projects like these had drained the government treasury of funds, and invited comment from the CAG, warning the state on escalating costs. After forming government, the review of the decisions had pushed the BRS into a damage-control mode, as this involves K. Chandrashekar Rao. This, once again, served a narrow point to prove that the former chief minister was, essentially, right in his decisions, even though evidence said otherwise.
Third, ambition. The future of top BRS leaders, like many regional parties out of power, depends heavily on their personal plans. This often leaves out deserving second-rung leaders, and upcoming cadre. As these parties are created in the anti-Congress space, they do not have functional or ideological structure to combat communal parties. Instead, their plan for revival remains fixed on attacking the Congress government, even when it serves the underprivileged, the minorities, the women, and the poor. This diminishes the BRS and exposes the self-interests that drive the party, not just now but even when it was in power.
Opposition to Congress party for the sake of opposition will not do in Telangana.
The sanctity of the role of opposition is derived from struggle, not smug politics. The BRS will do well to learn from the Congress party’s fight for people’s rights, freedoms and in national interest. Instead of displaying arrogance, it must reflect on the brilliant future for Telangana that the Congress government is ushering with great humility and total commitment.
Dr Kota Neelima is an author, All India Congress Committee member and fought the last assembly election in Telangana.