k SRIRAMULU
Amid the fervent discussions surrounding the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, a contentious discourse has emerged regarding the strength of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu in facing off against his opponents single-handedly. A comparison has been drawn, highlighting the contrasting approach of the late chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy, who was known to confront opposition with the ferocity of a tiger. Throughout his illustrious political journey, YSR, as he is affectionately remembered, remained an indomitable force from his inception into politics in 1978 until his untimely demise in 2009.
Present-day Andhra Pradesh finds itself deeply polarised as key political entities, viz, YSRCP, TDP, BJP, and Jana Sena. They spare no effort to outmanoeuvre one another. The coalition of TDP-BJP-Jana Sena has even resorted to inflammatory rhetoric, threatening to metaphorically ‘crush the skull’ of YSRCP president and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. In local vernacular parlance, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan brazenly articulated, ‘Tala meeda kalu petti pathala lokaniki tokkestam,” signifying a violent metaphor aimed at Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Such vitriolic exchanges have been met with disdain from the underprivileged segments of society and a portion of the middle class. Naidu’s derogatory remarks branding Jagan Mohan Reddy as a ‘demon’ have irked many, especially the rural masses, who have benefited from the welfare initiatives spearheaded by the YSRCP administration.
However, it is imperative to note that criticising Jagan Mohan Reddy’s governance should not entail dismissing his achievements outright. The endorsement he receives from the marginalised sections underscores the impact of his policies aimed at uplifting the downtrodden, akin to the transformative measures initiated during VP Singh’s tenure with the implementation of the Mandal Commission report.
Amid the prevailing discourse, urban areas exhibit signs of anti-incumbency, challenging Jagan Mohan Reddy’s bid for a resounding victory. Now the question is whether he can effectively counter this sentiment and secure a larger mandate compared to previous elections.
Turning to the debate surrounding Naidu’s electoral strategies, it is evident that he frequently sought alliances rather than contesting solo. Following his ascension to the chief minister’s office succeeding his father-in-law NT Rama Rao, Naidu forged alliances with Communist parties to counter the resurgence of Congress and the faction led by NTR’s widow, Lakshmi Paravathi.
His alliance-building extended to using helicopters to transport Communist leaders during campaign rallies.
Subsequently aligning with the BJP, Naidu navigated through formidable anti-incumbency sentiments in 1999, aided by the BJP’s increased vote share in combined Andhra Pradesh, which bolstered his electoral prospects.
However, the Congress, under YSR’s leadership, put up a fierce fight, securing 91 seats and challenging the dominance of the TDP.
