In a significant political development, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu, has made the decision to abstain from participating in the forthcoming elections in Telangana. This decision comes as a direct consequence of Chandrababu Naidu’s current incarceration in the Rajahmundry Central Jail, where he is facing allegations of fund misappropriation from the Skill Development Corporation.
The choice to stay out of the electoral arena in Telangana was reportedly made following a meeting between Telangana Telugu Desam chief, Kasani Gnaneswar, and Chandrababu Naidu within the confines of Rajahmundry Central Jail. In this meeting, Naidu, who remains in custody, expressed concerns about the difficulties of leading the party’s campaign efforts in Telangana without his presence.
This development further compounds the political challenges for Chandrababu Naidu, particularly due to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) expressed interest in aligning with the Jana Sena in Telangana while remaining non-committal about a partnership in Andhra Pradesh for the 2024 elections. The Jana Sena has declared its intention to contest the 2024 elections in collaboration with the Telugu Desam Party, potentially creating a complex political landscape for Naidu.
Historically, the Telugu Desam Party had a substantial support base in Telangana, which led to its victory in 15 seats in the 2014 elections and two seats in the 2018 assembly polls. However, the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly subsequently shifted their allegiance to the ruling party, altering the political equation.
Chandrababu Naidu’s supporters in Telangana expressed their disappointment over the lack of statements from the Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) condemning Naidu’s arrest and the restrictions placed on holding protests in his support in the Hitech City area. This discontent raised concerns within the ruling party, and multiple leaders subsequently voiced their disapproval of the circumstances surrounding Naidu’s arrest.
In light of these developments, the BJP’s outreach to Pawan Kalyan, the leader of the Jana Sena, becomes significant. Although the Jana Sena has had limited activity in Telangana, Pawan Kalyan commands a dedicated following. The BJP may anticipate that Kalyan’s announcement of a collaborative effort with the Telugu Desam Party could help them secure votes from Naidu’s supporters or at least redirect them away from the Congress and the BRS.
The impending Telangana elections are set to be a closely contested affair. The ruling Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS), seeking a third consecutive term, is banking on its slogan, “Manchiga Chesindu, Malli Vasthadu” (He did well, He will come back), while the opposition aims to sway voters with the promise of change through “10 samachralu ichcham. Marusdham” (We gave 10 years. Let’s Change).
In 2018, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) surprised his competitors by dissolving the assembly and announcing his party’s candidates on the same day. The BRS has continued this trend by revealing its candidates in August, making them the first to enter the race.
KCR has expressed confidence in securing a victory in the upcoming assembly elections, projecting that the BRS will win between 95 and 105 out of the 119 seats in the legislative house.
The BJP, in its bid to garner support, has pledged to appoint a Chief Minister from the OBC community if the party assumes power in Telangana.
In the previous assembly elections in 2018, the BRS, previously known as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), captured 88 of the 119 seats, amassing 47.4 percent of the total vote share, leaving the Congress far behind with only 19 seats.
The voting in Telangana is slated for November 30, with the results expected to be announced on December 3, setting the stage for a closely watched electoral battle.
Sources BY Agencies