Nara Lokesh has just wound up his gruelling padayatra across the four-district Rayalaseema. The yatra began on January 27 and left Rayalaseema region on June 13. Thus, he toured the region extensively for four-and-a-half months. The big question is – has his popularity graph gone up after this four-month long yatra?
Political watchers admit that despite his punishing schedule, Lokesh may not have made much impact and has now grown in popularity significantly. While he managed to draw pro-TDP crowds, his attempts to win over neutral voters appears to have not fully succeeded. The situation in these four districts has not seen much change, they point out.
The general perception is that the TDP has not improved its position in Jagan’s borough of Kadapa. In fact, Lokesh chose to skip Pulivendula constituency, which Jagan represents. In Anantapur, the TDP has marginally improved its position, but the scales are still tilted in favour of the ruling YSRCP. The situation has not changed in Kurnool district, where the TDP is riven by groupism. Lokesh Babus yatra has failed to resolve these deep differences in any way.
In Chandrababu’s home turf of Chittoor too, the situation is similar. Though Chandrababu appears to have gained a little in Kuppam assembly constituency, the party has a lot of ground to cover in the remaining constituencies. On the whole, Lokesh Naidu’s yatra appears to have stirred up the TDP rank and file but has not left the YSRCP shaken.
