The Telangana Student Joint Action Committee (TSJAC) members on Friday announced the formation of ‘Telangana Students Praja Party’ but soon after, other sections of the OU Students Joint Action Committee (OUJAC) opposed the move.
At a press conference, the new party president Karate Raju said the party would ensure that the students were not deprived of the benefits of the formation of Telangana State. The party will contest all the 119 Assembly constituencies and 11 Parliament seats in Telangana, he said.
“We have applied for party registration at the Chief Election Commissioner’s office and are expecting a reply soon,” Mr. Raju said.
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Discussions are on for finalising the party composition and a decision will be announced during a public meeting to be held at Osmania University Arts College campus on Jan.20, he said.
But the announcement was not received favourably by all members of OUJAC.
“The decision for floating the political party has been taken by only few sections of the OUJAC,” a JAC spokesperson Manne Krishank said. Formation of a political group by students at this juncture would only result in division of votes and may not be beneficial for those working for the Telangana cause, he said.
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“The upcoming elections are going to be a mandate for Telangana and with the State Reorganisation Bill stuck in Assembly, the new party will splinter this mandate,” he observed, claiming that many OUJAC members were kept in dark about the new initiative.
“This is the time for students to unite and fight for Telangana and not weaken it by dividing the movement for political gain,” he said.
When asked about the differences, Mr. Raju explained that consultations were on to bring all student leaders and bodies under the party. “We are working towards resolution of the differences and over a period of time all student leaders will join the party,” he maintained.