- The simultaneous polls (both assembly and Lok Sabha) in AP are turning out to be an intense battle of rhetoric, populist announcements and last-minute welfare spending
- Political analysts say that the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and main opposition YSRCP are in a close competition
From walking over 3,500 kilometres (km) across Andhra Pradesh to attacking chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu over the state not getting special category status, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to dethrone Naidu. The simultaneous elections (both assembly and Lok Sabha) in Andhra Pradesh are turning out to be an intense battle of rhetoric, populist announcements, last-minute welfare spending and even a dose of “Andhra Pride".
Political analysts say that the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and main opposition YSRCP are in a close competition, but Jagan’s sharp campaign and padayatra across the state is likely to give him an edge. “While Naidu is fighting a lone battle, Jagan Mohan Reddy has a tacit understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telangana chief minister and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrashekar Rao. TRS leaders are also playing the caste card in the state to ensure that certain key communities do not vote for the TDP," said political analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy.
On the other hand, the TDP, which is battling anti-incumbency, is relying on key welfare schemes it started over the last few months, such as annual financial assistance of ₹10,000 for women self-help groups. The scheme is expected to benefit 9.4 million women, and the payments are underway. Naidu is also stoking “Andhra pride" against Jagan for agreeing to support KCR’s federal front idea.
But will that be enough to battle anti-incumbency?
“Naidu has tried to build a new capital, but so far it has only increased land prices. Last time we voted for the TDP for the development of the state, but this time people are going to think twice about what is being promised to us," said S. Raju, 60, a farmer from Mangalagiri, a town which falls under the Amaravati capital region near Vijayawada. Many voters wondered about the fate of Amaravati if Jagan ends up winning.
Moreover, YSRCP has an advantage apropos the special category status (SCS) demand for Andhra Pradesh. Five of his party MPs had resigned in protest last year, and Jagan has successfully spearheaded the campaign for it, especially since last year. The TDP, which is also demanding SCS from the centre, was however caught on the back foot. The TDP had accepted a special package instead of SCS while it was in an alliance with the BJP, but was left flat-footed after the alliance broke over funding issues.
In the 2014 elections, the TDP won 102 of the total 175 assembly seats, the YSRCP won 67 seats and the BJP won four seats. The state has 25 parliamentary seats, of which the TDP won 15, YSRCP won eight, and the BJP won two seats in the 2014 general elections. However, over 20 YSRCP members of legislative assembly and three MPs subsequently defected to the ruling TDP (there have been more defections between both parties since January).
No comments:
Post a Comment