AP: Expect keen battle between TDP and YSRCP

In the first combined election for the state and Parliament to be held on April 11, Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a bitter fight for votes. The ruling TDP and the main opposition YSR Congress indulged in a no-holds-barred campaign. The voters remained spectators while the politicos turned a blind eye to the real issues.

In a multi-cornered fight for 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 assembly seats in the state, TDP, YSRCP, Congress, BJP, Janasena-BSP-Left combine have fielded their candidates.

The TDP which was a part of the Congress-led "Mahaghatbandhan" during Telangana elections is contesting alone. The BJP which was an ally of the TDP during 2014 elections is testing waters on its own as TDP severed ties with the NDA for not granting Special Category status.

Naidu cornered

Right from the notification of election schedule the TDP expressed suspicions over a BJP-EC nexus, as the election was scheduled for the first phase forcing Nara Chandrababu Naidu to declare candidates in hurry.

The tussle deepened after the transfers of the Intel DG and two superintendents of police after the YSRCP delegation met the EC. The EC also took away the additional responsibility of anti-corruption bureau from DGP RP Thakur.

The pressure on Naidu was pumped up by I-T searches of assets of prominent TDP leaders in AP and Telangana. "They might even arrest me in the coming few days. You have to cover me," a cornered Naidu was found urging voters at a road show.

YSRCP proxy for KCR

The opposition YSRCP found support in K Chandrasekhar Rao of TRS. The Telangana police seized an IT company in Hyderabad which has created an app for TDP cadre for stealing government data. YSRCP also alleged that Naidu indulged in mass deletion of pro-YSRCP votes. The case is pending in court.

While KCR and AIMIM resisted from campaigning in favour of YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Naidu is trying to gain mileage by highlighting the nexus between KCR and YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Pawan for Naidu’s rescue

Pawan kalyan who maintained equal distance from both TDP and YSRCP tilted completely in favour of TDP attacking Jaganmohan Reddy’s criminal record. A section of voters believe that Janasena will merge into TDP after elections.