The political response to the Cockroach Janata Party movement has exposed a strange contrast between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The CJP-led protests over the NEET paper leak have become a major national issue. Celebrities, political leaders and student groups across the country are reacting to the movement.
But the political parties in the two Telugu states are behaving very differently.
Telangana Parties Join the Protest
In Telangana, the BRS initially remained silent. The party appeared hesitant to directly confront the BJP at the Centre, possibly keeping future political equations in mind.
However, as the movement gained momentum and attracted support from students, BRS working president K T Rama Rao entered the field.
He expressed solidarity with the students and participated in protests, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
But Congress leaders quickly questioned KTR’s credibility. They reminded him of the TSPSC paper leak controversy during the previous BRS government and asked what moral responsibility he had accepted at that time.
The ruling Congress also joined the protests because the BJP is its main political rival at the national level. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other Congress leaders openly criticised the Centre.
As a result, both the ruling party and the Opposition in Telangana have taken a public stand.
Complete Silence in Andhra Pradesh
The situation in Andhra Pradesh is completely different.
The silence of the TDP and Jana Sena is understandable to some extent because both parties are part of the BJP-led NDA. They may not want to embarrass the Modi government on a sensitive national issue.
Relations with the Centre are also important for the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh.
But what has surprised political observers is the silence of the YSR Congress Party.
The YSRCP has no official alliance with the BJP and has every opportunity to attack the Centre over the paper leak controversy. Jagan Mohan Reddy has also reacted strongly to similar public issues in the past.
Yet, both Jagan and the YSRCP leadership have remained almost completely silent.
The apparent strategy is simple: do not anger the BJP.
The YSRCP has followed a similar approach on several central Bills and controversial decisions. Critics believe the legal cases hanging over Jagan continue to influence his political stand.
But such silence can damage the party among the public, especially when it is expected to act as the main Opposition in Andhra Pradesh.
Protest Competition vs Silence Competition
The latest developments present a strange political picture.
In Telangana, the ruling Congress and the Opposition BRS are competing to support the protests.
In Andhra Pradesh, both the ruling alliance and the main Opposition are competing to remain silent.
On the same national issue, Telangana is witnessing a contest over who can speak louder, while Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a contest over who can stay quieter.
That is the latest strange political trend in the two Telugu states.
