In the run-up to the Telangana elections, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) managed to neutralise one of its dangerous opponents- the Yuga Thulasi Party. Just like the BRS, which has a 'car' symbol, the Yuga Thulasi party was allotted a 'road roller' symbol. Based on previous elections, the BRS believes that identical symbols of insignificant independents and parties played spoilsport and damaged its chances.
The Yuga Thulasi Party, which has yet to win any assembly seats, is tactfully helping the BRS by not withdrawing completely. "If we don't contest, the symbol will become a free symbol and can be allotted to anyone. In such a case, it can be deadly for the BRS," said Shiva Kumar, the Founder-President of Yuga Thulasi.
He explains, "Some Congress and BJP members approached me to allot my symbol to people whose names would match with BRS candidates. With a similar name and symbol, there can be confusion, and BRS votes might be polled to the other candidate. I ensured that did not happen."
Not just that, Shiva Kumar withdrew some of his candidates where the party could pose a threat to BRS, like in Suryapet and Tandur, but fielded candidates in two dozen segments where BRS would remain unaffected. “I am contesting in Munugode. My serial number is much below the BRS candidate’s. So, I don’t think his votes will be transferred to me.”
If the BRS wins the Telangana elections, 30% of that credit would be because of his party’s efforts, he says.
But why is a ‘road roller’ helping the ‘car’? “I was promised land in Ibrahimpatnam to build a cow shelter by the CM himself if BRS forms the government. That’s why we agreed to support them in these elections,” he said.
Shiva Kumar, who runs two cow shelters with hundreds of cattle, says that he has been rescuing cows in and around Hyderabad from getting slaughtered illegally. His dream is to build a cow shelter with one lakh cows and also to see the cow being declared the national animal of India.
However, Shiva Kumar disagrees with any intention of foul play. “I initially applied for cow and calf, but it was rejected. I chose a road roller because it was one of the free symbols available.”
He also says that the votes his symbol got in previous elections were because of his work in the field of cow protection and not just out of confusion. Shiva Kumar also has a history with the neighboring state’s ruling party, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). An admirer of former united AP CM, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, he registered the party name initially but later passed it on to Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy after he decided to leave Congress and chart his own political journey.
