Politics in Andhra Pradesh is taking a new turn everyday as regional parties in the state are looking for new alliances and friends. With heavy competition between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for the upcoming Assembly elections, both are making the most of the opportunities available.
While the TDP had been with the NDA as a partner of the BJP for nearly four years, it severed its ties when the saffron party failed to fulfil the needs and demands of the state as promised in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Ever since, it has been scouting for a right partner and ended up having an alliance with the Congress, ending its 40-year rivalry with the grand old party. While the alliance in Telangana in the form of Prajakutami faced a drubbing, it was a lesson for the TDP to get it right this time in Andhra Pradesh’s assembly elections due in April-May this year.
Meanwhile, YSRCP Chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy’s Padayatra had gathered the support of the masses and ended up being one of the longest Padayatras in the history of Telugu politics by any political leader. His Padayatra has also transformed Jagan’s image into a patient leader who was often perceived as an inexperienced politician by many. While YSRCP has put up a strong Opposition against the TDP, it has been looking for allies. While the party did not claim openly that it supported the BJP, however the secret understanding still exists as part of BJP’s political vendetta against the TDP.
Additionally, TRS’ thumping win in Telangana brought the YSRCP closer to the pink party as it kept giving statements that it will support any party that will fight for Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh. While this ploy of the party seemed to be strategic, Jagan’s statements on joining KCR’s Federal Front sparked off rumours of a partnership between YSRCP and TRS. Yesterday’s meeting confirmed the understanding and interest of YSRCP in TRS.
While the TDP has made a blunder by tying up with the Congress, it has also made several people question the party about its own ideology and existence. The Yellow Party High Command also faced difficult questions from their own party cadre who did not agree to a tie-up with the Congress. With the Telangana Assembly elections dud for the TDP, it looks like the party leadership has learnt its lessons about people’s verdict of such an unexpected tie-up.
On the other hand, Jagan seeking TRS’ help and alliance at this point in time could turn out to be disastrous for YSRCP as TRS Chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao had made anti-Andhra statements earlier and keeps making such vitriolic statements on and off. Also, YSRCP needs to secure its place in the Assembly elections first and then look at its 42 MP seats arithmetic for Lok Sabha. This decision of a tie-up with TRS could prove to be damaging to Jagan as TDP may use this to showcase that TRS is interfering in AP’s elections and create a local sentiment that could work in TDP’s favour.
In conclusion, though the TDP-Congress alliance and TRS-YSRCP alliance look like smart moves, they need to be cautious about how they could become major blunders for both the Andhra Pradesh political parties which are vying to be in power this year. People’s verdict in the elections will prove whether they are lessons for TDP and YSRCP or clever strategies practised at the right time.
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