‘Hand’ hangs to the victory from blue skies

 - D. Vishnumohan Rao

M Satyanarayana Rao, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President and Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) must have pinched themselves and rubbed their eyes before believing the extent of victory of Congress in the recent elections to the local bodies.

The unanticipated, unexpected and many such other superlatives must have struck their brains strongly with the results. Congress was successful in clinching many seats beyond its predictions, calculations, and expectations with out any razzmatazz in canvassing. Thanks to the anti-establishment wave that spread in the people of the state. The APCC president and CLP leader expressed a single note ‘Oops! Did we really get so many seats?!!’

In the districts of West Godavari and East Godavari, which always fortified Telugu Desam, inclined more towards the main opposition Congress in these elections to the Mandal Parishad and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies. A tremor in Telugu Desam camp was felt with the achievement of Congress. Of the total 1094 ZPTC locations, Telugu Desam was able to claim 512 while Congress was bubbling with as many as 446.

Visakhapatnam, Nellore, Chittoor and Cuddapah were bagged with Congress’ own strength while Ranga Reddy, Khammam and Medak are likely to be flagged with tri-coloured Congress flag with the support of other parties. The election to the Vizianagaram ZPTC Chairman seat is neck to neck and turned interesting as both TDP and Congress have 17 seats each. Political analysts evaluated the results with the Congress’ strength of 90 members in the state legislature and stated the rise in voter percentage to Congress was about 40 to 50 Assembly constituencies. Various reasons peep for the inadvertent success to Congress.

‘Sealed Cover System’ sealed

The Congress in this election scrapped the traditional ‘Sealed Cover system’. This in fact turned strategically advantageous to the Congress. The District Congress Committees’ Presidents in the presence of state committee observers selected candidates. Telugu Desam on the contrary, implemented the sealed cover strategy for a loss. In the process, Congress could field strong contenders at many places for a gain and elevation of its position in the final tally.

It is also to be noted that Congress was way behind the extravaganza of the ruling party in organising canvassing campaigns and public meetings. Ruling TDP, which was wrapping up over 60 percent results constantly from 1999 elections should realise that its grip over the rural voters slackened.

Captivating free power supply promise

Congress as part of the poll promises, claimed that it would work out for free power supply to the people, especially to the primary sector functioned as a captivating intoxicant and motivator on the voter. Congress could reach people’s brain explaining that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was adopting anti-people, anti-ryot policies. They detailed that annually over Rs 350 crore is being spent by the Telugu Desam government for publicising the schemes implementation and Chief Minister’s personal candidature. In fact, Congress advised people that free supply of power to agricultural sector would cost a maximum of Rs 260 crore per annum. This had created a fine impression on Congress and a negative base on the ruling party.

The Congress also added that neighbouring state of Karnataka, where Congress is in power, is supplying power to farmers free of cost and in the state of Andhra Pradesh also it would be propagated. The ryots might have been experienced relief, which made them to incline towards Congress this time.

Displeasure on state and Central governments’ policies

It is evident that people in various states are having a feeling of dissatisfaction over the Central government and its policies, which was exhibited and proved in the recent elections to the legislatures of five states. Opposition parties in these states were crowned with majority in those elections.

A similar wave of undercurrent could be identified in the elections to the local bodies of the state. Cutting down subsidies to agricultural inputs, declaring that, banks would finance only to those farmers who had already cleared their previous loans and similarly, other formulations of the Central government added fuel to the fire. Drought, floods, lack of minimum support price, hike in power tariff, non-procurement of produce by government and non-availability of entry to open market, all these factors can also be considered for the success of Congress.

TRS teams up for Congress’ content

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which was floated by former deputy speaker K Chandra Sekhar Rao, indirectly helped for Congress’ better performance. Right from the word ‘go’ TRS’ leader Chandra Sekhar Rao targeted Telugu Desam with his criticism and charges.

As Chandra Sekhar was a TDP member before floating TRS, Congress thought that it would be best to let it be a one-on-one issue between TDP and TRS. This also had given advantage to Congress, indirectly. Chandrababu Naidu’s statements against TRS leader Chandra Sekhar, that the movement was only for quenching their power thirst but not for either welfare or separate statehood for Telangana did not impress voters of the region.

Congress did not raise much dust on the Telangana issue. It neither supported nor condemned the movement during the election campaign. Voters did not have a negative thing about Congress though they did not have a total positive, for the issue of Telangana.

The Communist connections

The Communist duo, through out the state, under the cover supported Congress where they did not have a tough candidate or did not contest. Many constituencies can be identified if gazed through Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema. Congress should be appreciated for the strategy of ‘secret’ handshakes with the Lefts, taking advantage of their stand of opposing both BJP and TDP. The handshake should continue in two or three districts to clinch the throne as the positions of Congress and Telugu Desam are on a balance.

Under these circumstances, Congress is moving pawns to bring all the opposition parties on to a single track and there are more chances of materialisation of the Congress dreams.

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