OU leaders dream big role in T land-OU-JAC Splits Into Four Groups As Students Pursue Political Ambitions

The Joint Action Committee of Osmania University students (OU-JAC ) has undergone a sea change since its formation in 2009 to spearhead the Telangana movement. The 20-member body formed by the leaders of several student organisations a year ago has now split into four different wings,affiliated to left and right wing political parties,as JAC leaders are making a bid to carve a niche for themselves in mainstream politics.Interestingly,most of the student leaders who had joined the JAC from non political student organisations,including caste based ones,seem to have affiliated themselves to mainstream political parties. For instance,the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) which was once loathed by most students has gained popularity among many JAC members.There are a large number of supporters for Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and left oriented student wings are moving closer to Gaddars Telangana Praja Front (TPF). Some of the senior JAC members are not hiding their dreams of becoming public representatives once Telangana gets statehood while others say that they have already tied up with political parties.Several student leaders are found more in party offices of political outfits than Osmania University,holding meetings and developing strategies to continue with the agitation on campus and outside.

Interestingly, political leaders were not allowed to step into the university campus a year ago with the students holding the centre stage of Telangana agitation.But things seem to have changed now as political party leaders are making their presence felt in the university through the JAC members. At a recent meeting some of the top leaders of JAC had invited Gaddar to speak to the students.BJPs Bandaru Dattatreya and CPI state secretary K Narayana had also come to the campus, said students who partici-pated in the agitation.In the earlier form of the agitation,students JAC used to act independently of the political JAC.But now instead of turning to the university professors who used to give them advice, student leaders are turning to politicians, said an observer. However,the increasing political affinity of the JAC representatives has caused the rise of a young brigade.

Most of the top leaders of student JAC are research scholars who have completed over 15 to 20 years in the university campus doing their post graduation,M Phil and PhD programmes.They have already given way to the young brigade who are mostly PG students who are allowed to take decisions on their own, said a student representative. For instance,Telangana Vidyarthi Kurukshetra,which is supposed to bring students from across the T region to OU campus,is being organised by the young student brigade. In 2009,a similar gathering,Vidyarthi Garjana,was called by the senior JAC leaders who directed younger students to follow orders.

Interestingly,several student leaders are being currently kept away from the agitation by the regular students of the university.The students do not require the JAC representatives to turn the university into a battle field for Telangana.There are times when the students start protests on campus without being instructed or guided, said a student. Meanwhile,political Joint Action Committee convener and staunch Telangana supporter,M Kodandaram said that political affiliation among student leaders is not new.OU-JAC is able to maintain its individuality in spite of the students alleged political affiliations.Then there should not be any trouble, said Kodandaram.
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(source-toi)