Is TDP, the main opposition party possible to overthrow the Jaganmohan Reddy administration by using its own power over the electorate in Andhra Pradesh? Should it work hand in hand with other political forces that share its views?
Despite being active in politics for more than four decades, N Chandrababu Naidu, a former chief minister and current leader of the Telugu Desam Party, will fight the next Assembly elections in a very different way this time.
Currently, Naidu is having a tough time. The fact that he was previously viewed as a political figure of dynamism is a different story. Chandrababu Naidu had shrewd political tactics at his fingertips and was once the united state’s undisputed monarch.
Of course, the circumstances that the TDP had to deal with throughout the administrations of N. T. Ramarao and Chandrababu Naidu differed significantly.
During his first term as chief minister, Naidu had to compete in elections against the then-powerful Congress. The Congress, which at the time was actually a national party, had to be fought by the TDP. There may have been leaders inside the Congress who disagreed with the party leadership on a political conflict with the TDP.
The popularity of the Congress party diminished following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. People of Andhra had apparently punished the Congress in the 2014 elections so much so that many candidates of the grand old party lost their deposits.
Naidu then had many friends. For example, during Naidu’s rule, former union minister and one among those who had worked on the draft bill relating to the AP Reorganisation Act 2014, Jairam Ramesh, (then secretary of AICC) had heaped praise on Naidu’s administrative skills at a seminar in Hyderabad. He had suggested that Naidu could be the answer to many of the pressing problems then.This view irked many Congress leaders, including Dr.YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who was then APCC president. Internal squabbles in Congress helped Naidu in diluting criticism against him by the grand old party.
Post bifurcation, Congress has almost disappeared in present AP and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has filled the resultant void. It is very hard now for Naidu to take on YSRCP, which is against the TDP. There is no chance of Naidu getting positive statements from YSRCP leaders on his policies and administrative skills. Naidu has to fight YSRCP with all his might.
In the post bifurcation period, Naidu has always fought the Congress with the support of other like-minded parties. In the 2014 elections too, he had the support of BJP. Naidu lost to YSRCP in the 2019 elections. YSRCP emerged victorious with a huge majority, securing 151 out of 175 seats.
The next elections are fast approaching, with the ruling and opposition parties launching strategies and counter strategies. YSRCP appears to be enjoying the support of a majority of people due to its populist welfare schemes that bring benefits to individuals with money getting deposited directly into their bank accounts. Jagan is confident of getting people’s support once again.
During the elections of 2019, Naidu had deposited Rs.20,000-Rs.30,000 into the accounts of every member of Self Help Groups even after the release of election notification. Yet, most of those members voted against Naidu. Having hopes on particular sections of society for votes may not be enough to win elections; for, nobody knows what influences voters at the eleventh hour.
Naidu might therefore seek assistance from groups that share his views. The Jana Sena Party, led by actor Pawan Kalyan, has stated that it will do all in its power to keep the anti-government vote from splitting. Thus, an alliance between these two political factions is possible. Officially, JSP is an ally of the BJP, which is in charge of the federal government.
There may be real initiatives to unite the TDP, JSP, and BJP to take on the YSRCP in the upcoming elections. However, when acting alone, each of the three parties is acting as though they are at odds with the other two parties. This strategy has denied the YSRCP the chance to denounce their union as a “unholy alliance.” #KhabarLive #hydnews #hydlive
