Union Home Minister and Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh’s visit to Andhra Pradesh soon after Cyclone Titli ravaged Srikakulam. His visit comes at a time when BJP is trying to make inroads in South India, especially into Andhra Pradesh.

While BJP has already sent its MP GVL Narasimha Rao to AP to increase its attack on TDP, the saffron party has lost brownie points as Rajnath Singh left the state without visiting Cyclone-affected areas. Had he visited and met victims affected by the Cyclone, it would have created, if not positive, a neutral wave for BJP in Andhra Pradesh.

This missed opportunity not only reflects a message that BJP wants to put all its forces against the TDP government but also is a testimony to the fact that it is ignorant about Andhra Pradesh. This has re-established that it is looking at Andhra Pradesh only for political gains and is not willing to support the state’s development.

Rajnath Singh at a meeting said “The Congress is taking its last breath. Chandrababu Naidu thinks he can keep it alive for a while by placing it on a ventilator. But the Congress is not going to survive,” Rajnath Singh asserted, indirectly referring to the TDPs efforts to tie-up with the Congress.

Whoever fell into its (Congress) trap have gone,” he remarked. However, Rajnath Singh or the BJP do not understand that it is the TDP that has had a stronghold in the state and not the saffron party. BJP should at least make amends to itself and its attitude towards Telugu states in 2019 elections. If not, it might lose the tiny voterbase it has.

Rahul Gandhi’s brief Telugu speech at Congress Praja Garjana in Kamareddy has won the hearts. Rahul has tactically raised the three fundamental issues that led to Telangana movement – Neellu (Water), Nidhulu (Funds) and Niyamakalu (Jobs). By raking in these three, Rahul questioned the large gathering whether these three fundamental promises in the new Telangana state were fulfilled. Rahul said KCR has failed miserably in fulfilling the promises. He said KCR betrayed the people and hasn’t fulfilled any of his poll promises.

Rahul attacked both KCR and Narendra Modi in his Telangana tour. He said both BJP and TRS are one and the same. He said both KCR government and Narendra Modi government would go this time. He assured the Telangana farmers of Rs 2 Lakh farm loan waiver at one shot as soon as Congress comes to power in Telangana. Rahul exuded confidence that both at Centre and Telangana, Congress would comeback to power.

In his strategic and inclusive speech, Rahul seems to have impressed all sections, all communities and people of all walks of life. By raising the Note Bandi (Demonetisation) and levy of GST, Rahul said how small and medium businesses were highly affected. Rahul raised Rafael deal and attacked PM Modi of cheating, looting people of the country. He said Modi has taken people’s money and given that to his friends and wealthy businessmen referring to Anil Ambani.

Throughout his speech at various public meetings, Rahul has literally swoon the people. Rahul’s improvement is really laudable. He has improved his public speaking skills by bounds and leaps. Overall, Rahul’s Telangana tour became huge success and it gave big boost to Congress cadre in Telangana.

Given the current tide of Kapus jumping ship and joining Jana Sena Party (JSP), it looks the party founder Pawan Kalyan is encouraging Kapu dominance in the party. As someone who came into politics thundering the message of eliminating casteism, Pawan is now working against his own core beliefs. His claims of “New Age Politics” could be dashed if this continues to become “Kapu Sena.”

Leaning heavily on the Kapus, it looks like Pawan Kalyan is committing the same mistake his big brother Chiranjeevi fell for. Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party relied heavily on Kapu votebank in the Godavari districts. Now, after bifurcation, Kapus again see Jana Sena as their golden chance to pole vault into the corridors of power. Aware of the fact that the vote swing is decided by Kapus in Andhra Pradesh, he has set his eyes on key seats that Praja Rajyam had won in the Godavari region.

If we look at a few incidents on Jana Sena’s stance over Kapus, Pawan Kalyan dashed off an open letter to AP CM Chandrababu Naidu, demanding inclusion of the community in the BC list, soon after the Kapu Quota Agitation in Tuni.

The recent Kavathu by Jana Sena from Dowleswaram Barrage also was a show of strength from the Kapu heartland. While Pawan Kalyan is known to make high-voltage political appearances and then go off the boil, one still wonder whether he would have dared to hold such a massive public gathering elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh.

On the other hand, Pawan could be BJP’s war-horse in Andhra Pradesh, to scrap TDP’s votebank in the Godavari region, the one that made the difference for TDP in 2014 elections. But, he would also have to fight the YSRCP in the Godavari region that could work with Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham.

Even as Pawan Kalyan has managed to portray himself as the saviour of people and reaches out to those in trouble, one needs to wait and watch whether his “New Age Politics” will depict him the champion of the Kapus or push him to the brink of self-destruction?

BJP’s efforts in entering South India seem to have taken a violent route. With Sabarimala protests raking up a major controversy, it looks like BJP is trying to get most mileage out of the current conundrum in Kerala. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesperson Vinod Bansal today said the Sabarimala Temple was southern India’s Ayodhya.

Upping the ante, Bansal thanked the devotees who have been aggressively protesting against the Supreme Court’s verdict that quashed restrictions imposed on the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple. Sources say that BJP is purposely continuing the protests to spread its Soft Hindutva message in Kerala which is dominated by Left parties.

“Good that Sitharam Yechury has himself compared Sabarimala with Ayodhya because yes Sabarimala is South’s Ayodhya. The way sanctity, religious belief and the serenity of Sabarimala have been attacked shows the reality of the CPI (M). The CPI (M) remains blind and ignorant on Kerala nun suffering, the way non-Hindus are appointed in Travancore Devaswom Board. I appreciate and thank the people who are protesting and saving the sanctity of the temple,” the VHP spokesperson said.

Party insiders say that BJP is putting all its efforts in ensuring that this fight continues. Political observes however say that BJP is worsening politics in the South with such incidents.

“If you look at Tamil Nadu after Jayalalitha’s death, BJP tried to meddle with state affairs. It didn’t work. Same happened with Karnataka. They failed to form the government. With Telugu States, they are trying to create disputes between AP and Telangana. And, now Kerala. This is a dangerous sign for the country and the South,” said a political analyst.

While BJP is trying to increase the saffron footprint across India, we are yet to watch whether South India will accept a party that propagates religion in a region dominated by regionalism.

Ram Charan has announced that he will adopt a village in the Cyclone Titli-affected region in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Charan said he has directed his team to initiate the process and he said they will examine and identify a village which needs his contribution.

Guess who gave this idea to Charan? It’s Babayi Pawan Kalyan. Charan thanked Pawan for the suggestion and he said he has readily agreed to do so. Charan said he will make an announcement once he finalizes the village.

In a statement, Charan said he is in a position to contribute and make a difference. He said he is happy to help.

The two public meetings of Congress president Rahul Gandhi at Bhainsa in Nirmal district and Kamareddy district headquarters on Saturday turned out to be a big disappointment, as his speeches lacked the punch and aggression that would attract the crowds.At both the meetings, Rahul failed to convince the people as to why they should vote for his party.

He even forgot to claim credit for the formation of separate Telangana state by explaining how the Congress party had granted separate state fighting against all odds, risking its own political existence in the southern states.

He did not even properly put forth the failures of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government in the last four years, though he spoke of corruption by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.He just read out what the Congress would do if it is voted to power in the state, but did not elaborate as to why these promises were being made.

It appeared Rahul was eager to talk about his favourite subject Rafael deal to expose the corruption by the Narendra Modi government. And he went on explaining about the deal, forgetting the local issues.As a result, there was not much response to his speeches at the public meetings.On the other hand, there were loud cheers and applause when Telangana Congress working president Revanth Reddy rose to speak after Rahul at Bhainsa.

Revanth was at his eloquent best, while explaining the sacrifices made by the Gandhi family and the achievements of the Congress party.The former Kodangal MLA was more convincing than Rahul in explaining why the people should vote for the Congress party.Apparently, Rahul also acknowledged the response Revanth was getting for his speech even at a remote place called Bhainsa.

Of course, it was rather embarrassing for other campaigners like Vijaya Shanti and PCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy!