The formation of the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (TJAC) in 2009 was a critical development in the Telangana statehood movement. The TJAC played a pivotal role in coordinating and intensifying the struggle for the creation of a separate Telangana state. It brought together a diverse range of political parties, student organizations, civil society groups, and intellectuals under one umbrella, working towards the common goal of statehood.
Here’s a detailed look at the formation and role of the Political Joint Action Committee (TJAC) during this period:
1. Background Leading to TJAC Formation
Renewed Momentum for Telangana (Post-2009): The demand for a separate Telangana state gained renewed momentum after K. Chandrashekar Rao’s (KCR) Fast-Unto-Death in late 2009. The hunger strike brought widespread attention to the Telangana cause and intensified protests across the region.
Need for Coordination: With the growing unrest, there was a need for a unified platform to coordinate the various political, social, and student organizations advocating for statehood. The idea was to bring together all forces supporting Telangana and provide strategic direction to the movement.
Existing Movements: Various student groups, such as those at Osmania University and Kakatiya University, were already actively participating in the Telangana movement. Intellectuals, civil society organizations, and cultural groups were also playing a role in raising awareness about the historical injustice faced by the Telangana region.
2. Formation of TJAC (December 2009)
Establishment: The Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (TJAC) was formally constituted in December 2009, following KCR’s hunger strike and the subsequent announcement by the central government on December 9, 2009, that it would initiate the process of creating Telangana. However, the government’s indecisiveness and delay in moving forward with the bifurcation led to the need for coordinated action across all pro-Telangana groups.
Leadership: The TJAC was chaired by Professor M. Kodandaram, a respected academic and activist, who played a crucial role in uniting various political parties and social groups under a single banner. He emerged as one of the most prominent leaders of the Telangana movement, providing intellectual guidance and moral leadership.
3. Composition of TJAC
Political Parties: The TJAC included representatives from various political parties, including the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and factions of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] that supported Telangana statehood.
- The Indian National Congress did not officially join the TJAC as the party’s position on Telangana was not uniform. Some Congress leaders supported statehood, while others, particularly from the Seemandhra region, opposed it.
Student Organizations: Student groups, particularly from Osmania University and Kakatiya University, were instrumental in the formation of the TJAC. The Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee (OUJAC) became a major force in the movement, organizing protests, strikes, and rallies in favor of Telangana.
Civil Society and Cultural Organizations: Intellectuals, writers, poets, and cultural activists also played an important role in the TJAC. Many cultural programs, plays, and songs were used to raise awareness and rally public support for the Telangana cause.
4. Objectives and Strategy of TJAC
Coordination of Protests: The main objective of the TJAC was to coordinate all the pro-Telangana groups, ensuring that protests, strikes, and demonstrations were carried out in a unified and organized manner. This helped maintain the momentum of the movement, preventing it from losing steam.
Public Mobilization: The TJAC worked to mobilize public opinion across the Telangana region through mass meetings, rallies, and bandhs (strikes). These protests often drew large crowds, demonstrating the widespread support for statehood.
Advocacy and Negotiations: The TJAC also served as a platform for engaging in discussions and negotiations with the central government. While TRS, led by KCR, took a political lead in the discussions, the TJAC provided intellectual and civil society backing to the movement, ensuring that all voices were represented.
Non-Political Platform: The TJAC was primarily focused on uniting all Telangana stakeholders, irrespective of their political affiliations. Although it included political parties, it functioned as a non-political platform with a singular goal—statehood for Telangana.
5. Key Activities and Protests Organized by TJAC
Bandhs and Rallies: The TJAC called for several bandhs (shutdowns) and organized massive rallies in various parts of Telangana. Some of the key protests included the Million March held in Hyderabad in March 2011, where thousands of people gathered to demand the creation of Telangana.
Student-Led Protests: Students under the umbrella of the TJAC were highly active in organizing campus strikes, rallies, and hunger strikes. Osmania University became the epicenter of the student-led movement, and violent clashes with the police became a common occurrence during this time.
Protests in Delhi: The TJAC organized protests and hunger strikes in New Delhi to draw national attention to the Telangana issue. The involvement of students, activists, and politicians in these protests helped keep the demand for Telangana on the national political agenda.
Mass Resignations (2010): In 2010, under the guidance of the TJAC, many elected representatives from Telangana, including MLAs and MPs, submitted their resignations to protest the delay in forming Telangana. This added political pressure on the central government to address the statehood demand.
6. Challenges Faced by TJAC
Internal Divisions: While the TJAC was successful in uniting various groups, there were internal divisions, particularly among political parties. Some parties were hesitant to fully commit to the cause due to political calculations or concerns about losing support in the Seemandhra region.
Seemandhra Opposition: The rise of the Samaikyandhra Movement (United Andhra Movement) in opposition to Telangana posed a significant challenge. The counter-protests and political maneuvering by Seemandhra leaders created delays in the central government’s decision-making process.
Police Crackdown: The Telangana movement often faced heavy-handed police responses, with several activists being arrested and protests being dispersed using force. The universities, particularly Osmania University, were frequently under siege by the police during this period.
7. Role of TJAC in the Final Stages of the Movement (2013–2014)
Maintaining Pressure: Even after the Congress Working Committee’s (CWC) decision in 2013 to create Telangana, the TJAC played a key role in ensuring that the central government followed through on its commitment. The TJAC kept the movement alive by organizing protests and rallies until the formal bifurcation process was completed.
Support for TRS: The TJAC supported the efforts of the TRS, led by KCR, in the final negotiations with the central government regarding the formation of Telangana. While TJAC provided the grassroots support, TRS worked through political channels to achieve the bifurcation.
8. Formation of Telangana (June 2, 2014)
- Culmination of the Struggle: The efforts of the TJAC and other pro-Telangana groups culminated in the official formation of the state of Telangana on June 2, 2014. K. Chandrashekar Rao became the first Chief Minister of the newly formed state. The success of the TJAC in coordinating the movement across multiple fronts was a significant factor in achieving statehood.
Conclusion
The formation of the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (TJAC) in 2009 was a watershed moment in the Telangana statehood movement. It played a critical role in uniting various political and social forces in Telangana, maintaining the momentum of the movement, and keeping pressure on the central government. Under the leadership of Prof. M. Kodandaram, the TJAC ensured that the demand for Telangana remained alive and vibrant, ultimately contributing to the successful creation of the state in 2014.
