Imagine 2024 Assembly Elections in Andhra Pradesh. It’s a high-voltage campaign of the Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress Party, Jana Sena Party & the BJP fighting each other, to woo voters and win the polls. Ideally, every party in the state thinks it has chances. Why not? Right?
Now…imagine how election campaigns by these political parties turn out to be. High-decibel campaign with abuses hurled at each other, blame game of politics, big claims and promises of what will be done if they come to power and most importantly, a huge promise of freebies for elections. Amidst all of this, if one carefully observes the way alliances are consolidating towards the 2024 assembly elections in the state, you are sure to recognize that every party is fighting to thwart the TDP.
Let’s explain this further.
- Let’s take the BJP as an example. Going by the current scenario, even if the party brings in a religious narrative, the party has absolutely no chances of gaining considerable vote-share. So, the saffron party is very well aware of its weaknesses in AP. As a result, it will look for an alliance partner. One – Jana Sena is the nearest and easiest bait in the process. Promise of a Special Status from the Centre, completion of Polavaram and Central support in terms of funding for the project and funds for capital construction could be the low hanging fruits that BJP will use to woo Pawan Kalyan and Andhra voters. This means Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will tour the state, making these promises along with Jana Sena. Why? They have a bigger worry – Not to allow Chandrababu Naidu to become the Chief Minister.
- Let’s take the YSRCP as an example. The people of AP are vexed with a disastrous government that is run by CM Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. While his party got a majority, it has destroyed all the progressive policies made by the previous government. Moreover, no development activity or new investments have come to the state. From hike in power charges to taxes on fuel and other levies within the state, the people are clearly suffering. Yet, the YSRCP’s freebies are popular among people. So, even in this case, YSRCP wants to win and thwart the TDP. Again, the BJP and YSRCP, which are currently on friendly terms, may have a secret understanding to suppress and not allow the TDP to come to power. Why? Common enemy is the TDP. So, win-win for friends with a common political enemy.
- Let’s take the BRS/Jana Sena as an example. As a new and fledgling party, Jana Sena has been making the right amount of noise in the state. From contesting the last election and testing the waters, it is slowly gaining ground. Also, given that its Chief Pawan Kalyan is a Kapu leader, a huge number of Kapu votes from the Godavari and Visakhapatnam region may swing in their favour. But, the Jana Sena is clearly confused about the alliance game. On one side, it is getting pulled by the BJP for obvious reasons of the Centre bullying the new party and on the other hand, it has YSRCP which Pawan has ideological differences with. But, there’s also pressure from the neighboring state’s party, BRS, which wants to take the help of Jana Sena and split votes in AP and favour KCR’s friend, Jagan in the state.
What is common in all three scenarios is that they have a common enemy they want to suppress – the Telugu Desam Party. With PM, neighbouring state’s CM and current CM along with other political forces attempting to thwart Chandrababu’s accession to power in 2024, it is clear that his strength is unperturbed. For anyone watching this game of politics in Andhra Pradesh, it looks like a David Vs. Goliath situation where Goliath is a United Opposition against the TDP.
