Telangana polls are a closely watched affair in the neighbouring state. Bhimavaram is a town in Andhra Pradesh known for fertile lands and wealthy aqua farmers. It is also famous for its betting culture. Whether it is a cricket match or a cockfight, there is no dearth of people willing to risk their money to experience the sheer thrill of gambling. Right now, bets are being placed on the outcome of the Telangana elections. According to locals, initial odds favoured TRS; later, the Prajakutami (People's Front) became the winning horse. On the polling day, odds favoured both sides in equal measure.
Sitting in the capital city of Amaravati, 200km away from Bhimavaram, AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will closely follow the polling day action. More than anyone, he would want the Prajakutami to win, as there is a lot at stake for him. The People’s Front comprises of the Congress, TDP, CPI and the Telangana Jana Samithi. For the first time, traditional rivals TDP and the Congress have aligned to take on the TRS. Naidu is regarded the main architect of the alliance. Facing anti-incumbency in his home state, and branded as an Andhra leader in Telangana, Naidu made his moves carefully. In the initial days of campaigning, local TDP leaders did not reveal his tour plans. The party tread cautiously, not even confirming the list of star campaigners. According to sources in the TDP camp, Naidu was to campaign only for one day, attending public meetings with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. However, after gauging the response from the Telangana public, Naidu seemed to have made up his mind to campaign extensively.
“He was not sure how the voters would react. After he felt there was no overt animosity, he decided to extend his campaign,” said a TDP leader. Naidu campaigned in Hyderabad and the outskirts, making appearances even in narrow bylanes and slum settlements. At public meetings, he chose a slogan, Jai Telangana. Naidu tried his best to demolish the perception that he was an outsider. "I love this city,” he said at a road show, referring to Hyderabad. He tried to connect with the people, talking about his work during his tenure as chief minister, and what he did to give a facelift to Hyderabad. By the end of the campaign, Naidu had become the face of the People's Front, overshadowing even the local Telangana Congress leaders. This did not sit well with other leaders of the alliance, some of whom vehemently opposed Naidu. Hardcore Telangana supporters could possibly abandon the front, they reasoned. In internal meetings, a few leaders expressed their concerns, but were not taken seriously. If the People’s Front wins, Naidu can claim credit for it. However, in case the Prajakutami loses in Telangana, analysts feel it will backfire on Naidu; the Congress and other alliance leaders will readily blame his interference for the loss. It could also result in the coalition breaking up. In AP, which will go to polls mid-2019, Naidu could face rough weather because of his failed experiment in Telangana. While this scenario can greatly help the YSR Congress party, the TDP will be in deep trouble as people might once again dump Congress, and along with it, the TDP.
