VIJAYAWADA: The Nandyal by-election verdict in favour of TDP is significant in more than one way. It not only signalled a shift from faction politics in Rayalaseema to a life of peace and all-round development but also held out that people continue to trust Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu just as the way they did in 2014. It also established that Chandrababu Naidu is too smart an opponent to YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. Naidu’s razor sharp brain in scripting winning strategies in an election was on display for all to see. The Opposition leader, though he had the support of political strategist Prashant Kishor, could not prove to be a match to the modern-day Chanakya.
Ever since the counting of votes began on Monday morning, there was no turning back for TDP nominee Bhuma Brhamanada Reddy, who is the son of incumbent MLA late Bhuma Nagireddy’s brother. As counting progressed, Brahmananda Reddy established an unassailable lead over his YSRC rival Silpa Mohan Reddy. Turning upside down the electoral calculus that the contest might go down to the wire, TDP won the election with a wide margin of over 27,000 votes. The writing on the wall was clear from the first round itself, since votes that were counted first were from YSRC strongholds of Nandyal Rural and Gospadu mandals where the TDP gained a clear majority over the YSRC.
As it is a by-election, the tendency of the voters is usually to elect the nominee of the ruling party as that way they could stand to benefit as the legislator would have more access to the government in getting funds necessary for the development of the town or the village. “People have elected TDP since they wanted the works that are going on in the town to continue without any hindrance,” said one analyst.
The TDP has played its cards well by initiating a number of development programmes in Nandyal of a value of nearly `1,300 crore much ahead of the election. The development that the government had planned was primarily widening the roads to 100 ft width from 30 ft width besides construction of flyovers on important roads. “The people were afraid that all this would come to an end if they elect YSRC nominee,” said the analyst. This apart, they wanted a civilised culture to flourish in the town and when Jagan Mohan Reddy began calling Chandrababu Naidu names and even going to the extent of saying that there is nothing wrong if people like Naidu are shot, it did not appeal to them. “It may have worked well in Allagadda but not in Nandyal as it is an urban area,” he said. When it came to addressing micro-issues, Naidu has proved that there was none to beat him. Bhuma’s two daughters Akhila and Mounika went around narrating how they had lost both their parnts to drum up support for their cousin Brhamhananda Reddy.
As Muslims are over 52,000 of the total electorate of 2.09 lakh, Naidu handled them with kid gloves by offering MLC position to former Minister N Md Farooq and promising the chairmanship of the legislative council if he helps the TDP win the election. As Farooq is a good natured person, minorities are understood to have supported the TDP despite the fact that Naidu has an alliance with the BJP. Naidu has managed to win Balijas who are about 38,000 in number taking advantage of the fact that they do not get along well with Reddys in Nandyal.
The big fight
More than Jagan, Naidu had managed to charm minorities, SCs and Balijas
There are allegations that both the parties had tried to influence voters with gifts and money
They ranged from distribution of nose studs, non-refundable loans and cash
Naidu’s reply to Jagan’s “shoot CM” comment have cut ice with voters and finally gave Naidu
the edge
Playing of video of funeral procession of Bhuma Nagireddy on giant screens in Nandyal also helped the TDP