Time for political parties to play "I spy"

Hyderabad, Nov. 8: Spying on each other has become the favourite activity of political parties in the run-up to the polls. But even as they are trying to get the inside dope of other parties, political leaders are also looking behind their shoulders to see if their secrets are being stolen by someone.

Though it was Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi's order to spy on leaders which got publicised, the fact remains that the Congress and the Telugu Desam are also into the snooping business. Despite holding the reins of the state, the Congress is also the victim of spying and key decisions have leaked out. One Congress leader said that close relatives are working in different parties and it was only natural for them to share information. There are also those who leak out secrets to return past favours form rival parties.

Mostly the blame is laid on the doorsteps of the media. "Many journalists who get secret information are carrying it from one camp to another for various benefits," said a Congress leader. The other day, the Congress MP, Mr Undavalli Arun Kumar, became a victim of such a leakage. He held a press conference on the purchase of 'grabbed' lands by the Telugu Desam president Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu's family members.

Though Arun Kumar held the press conference at noon TD leaders came to know about his revelations in the morning itself. This helped Mr Naidu to immediately react to the charges. Sources said that the MP shared the information with a senior journalist of a TV channel, who promptly leaked it to the TD.

Though the TD benefited from this leak, it is also a victim of spying. "We are not sure how information pertaining to the party is landing in the hands of the Congress," said a senior TD leader. "Some leaders are under suspicion." The TD circles are rife with stories about the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy's sudden generosity towards TD MLAs. "I am told that YSR sent a bag full of money to an MLA who is in dire straits," said a source. "He also helped a woman TD leader solve a family problem."

And Chiranjeevi has been the worst victim of spying with his orders to snoop on leaders itself being filmed secretly and leaked out. The Praja Rajyam leaders have finally zeroed in on a staffer in the party headquarters who was earlier a member of the TD. But he denied the charges. The situation is equally bad in TRS camp. All the dope on the secret meetings is leaked out. "We take it easy since we only have one thing to discuss Telangana," said a TRS MLA.