The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its allies Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party (JSP) and the BJP are heading for a landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh. This is a complete reversal of the 2019 election results.
Telugu Desam Party leader N. It was a turning point for the Telugu Desam-led alliance, which had almost given up just months before the elections after the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu.
Why is YSRCP weakened?
Jagan has not focused on the government’s problems in trying to implement his nine welfare schemes, named Navaratnalu (Nine Gems), which he promised during his padayatra ahead of the 2019 elections.
By doing so, the Chief Minister ignored the demands of the majority of people who sought employment, civic infrastructure and development. In its five-year rule, the YSRCP government failed to take major investments or launch new projects in the state.
Jagan’s preference for welfare program implementation over governance created great resentment against the local elected representatives of the YSRCP. It was exploited by the Alliance. Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan addressed dozens of public meetings. At the same time they assured the people that they would tackle unemployment and lack of industrial development. Chandrababu Naidu went to the extent of telling people that they want the welfare and development of the state.
The alliance also seems to have overcome the Kamma-Kapu divide and consolidated the votes of traditional rivals in its favour.
What other factors defeated YSRCP?
Even after 10 years of Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation into 2 states, the absence of a capital city seems to have influenced the minds of the voters.
In an attempt to take credit from Chandrababu Naidu, who declared Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s capital in 2014, Jagan floated the three-capital theory. However, he failed to make progress in implementing this plan.
The attitude of the volunteers employed by the YSRCP government to ensure door-to-door delivery of the welfare schemes of the state government is another reason for the operation with many complaints against them. Some volunteers threatened people with loss of benefits if they did not swear allegiance to the YSRCP.
Did welfare beneficiaries not vote for Jagan?
There were several reports of beneficiaries getting less benefits than they were entitled to and some being completely excluded. Also, a section of voters who chose Jagan out of sympathy in 2019 seem to have deserted him this time.
The basic feeling that most of the government’s funds are spent on pecuniary benefits also seems to have worked against Jagan. He added that his government has spent Rs. He had repeatedly said in rallies that he had rolled 3.5 lakh crores. Eligible beneficiaries who did not get the stipend were at a loss as to where the money had gone.
What is the way ahead for Telugu Desam and Andhra Pradesh?
Chandrababu Naidu’s immediate tasks include taking stock of the state’s financial situation and initiating appropriate measures to bring it back on track. He must ensure funding for the “Babu Super Six” schemes promised in his manifesto.
Rebuilding the capital at Amaravati will also be one of the priorities of the Telugu Desam Party-led government.
