Desaraju Surya
As you travel on any road in
All this is part of an “image-building” exercise that Kiran launched in recent days. The State Information and Public Relations Department has initiated an aggressive audio-visual advertisement campaign to trumpet the government programmes and simultaneously prop-up the Chief Minister.
Ever since he came to occupy the Chief Minister’s chair in November last rather unwittingly, Kiran never had an easy going. Troubles plagued him from the day he constituted his Council of Ministers and thereafter he faced more brickbats than bouquets.
He was always seen as a “loner” who could not carry people along and a novice in administrative affairs. Besides, he was a “poor communicator” who could neither speak nor read his mother tongue Telugu properly.
This became a biggest handicap for Kiran and provided a tool for others to lampoon him as he failed to “connect” with the people.
Close to seven months in office now, there is no change yet in Kiran’s fortunes. Administration in the state – as opposition parties allege and some of the ministers themselves admit – is in disarray for a variety of reasons. The Chief Minister could not buy peace with his Cabinet colleagues or Congress leaders while the “high command” that promised to take care of his troubles now apparently remains indifferent.
The burden fell on Kiran himself to work out a way to overcome all the hiccups and thus the image-building effort.
“Since conversing in Telugu has been a major problem, the Chief Minister primarily focused his energies on honing his language skills in the last couple of months. Now there is a marked improvement in the way he addresses a public meeting,” a close aide of Kiran said.
Last week, Kiran surprised everyone by addressing villagers at Vaddepally in Medak district for 40 minutes. This was first time ever that the Chief Minister addressed a public meeting for that length of time. And, he spoke with clarity which hitherto was lacking in his speeches.
Though he doesn’t have a coterie as such, Kiran Kumar consults two senior journalists almost on a daily basis for inputs and feedback on public reaction to his speeches as well as the government programmes.
Kiran Kumar has also been holding regular meetings with the Congress cadres in different districts these days. The one point he is trying to drive home through such meetings is to “stay committed” to the party and get rewarded.
“I am a shining example. I have been a committed Congress worker for over 25 years now and a four-term MLA. I never hankered for posts. I wanted to be a minister at best but I was rewarded with the Chief Minister’s post,” Kiran has been telling the party rank and file.
Since he is facing opposition within the party following his elevation, Kiran is trying to project that it is the Congress high command that brought him in. By this, he is seeking to silence his detractors by invoking the high command.
But Kiran’s aides see this also as a part of the image-building process. He is clearly sending out a message to those who are questioning his leadership credentials.