The Nandyal by-election is keeping the political parties in Andhra Pradesh occupied. While the fight is really between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the opposition, the YSR Congress Party, there are others, including the Congress, in the fray.
While it would be hugely symbolic for the TDP to win this seat, considering the general elections are just 18 months away, the opposition leader and president of the YSRCP Jaganmohan Reddy is acting as if the general elections are already here. In what has now become a high voltage campaign, Reddy has launched a fierce criticism against Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, saying people like Naidu deserve to be shot in the middle of the road.
Naidu, meanwhile, is trying to make the state opposition-free. The task is tad difficult, considering the efforts being put in by YSRCP. During one of his Nandyal tours earlier, the CM said, “If you do not like my government, don’t use the roads I have laid or take pensions I am giving you.” The statement had sparked a controversy.
“Nandyal roads are ours. We stand on them and confront you,” Reddy had said, reacting to the CM's statement.
An unfazed Naidu clarified saying, “I am merely asking people to vote for me for a second term so that I can complete the work that I have started."
Nandyal was represented by the late Bhuma Nagi Reddy who was earlier with the TDP and then jumped to the YSRCP only to come back to TDP again.
It is an unwritten understanding among political parties that in the event of the death of the incumbent, the seat should be left to the party whom he was representing and so the TDP requested the YSRCP not to put up a candidate, but the YSRCP claim the seat is theirs. With neither party ready to back down, the elections are to be held on August 23 and campaigning is truly heating up.
Jaganmohan is camping in Nandyal and after the `shoot Naidu in public' comment he recently went on say, “There is no wrong in hanging Naidu.” Jagan in fact defended his earlier notorious comment and said “Naidu made several promises but none of them have taken a shape. Without fulfilling them he is again making false promises and betraying the innocent people."
Jaganmohan appealed to the people to cast their vote to Silpa Mohan Reddy, who ironically jumped from the TDP to join the YSRCP because he was refused a ticked for this seat.
