Both YSRC, TDP bank on sympathy

By VV Balakrishna - PAYAKARAOPET

09th June 2012 09:29 AM


When I boarded a seven seater auto-rickshaw at Payakaraopet to reach Nakkapally, the fellow travellers were engaged in a political debate. Around 10 passengers, including women were discussing the pros and cons of TDP and YSRC candidates.

An aged person argued strongly that the TDP candidate would win and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu was the only able leader available in the state. But, a youngster was bot happy with the observation.

He supports YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The women in the auto too were divided between YSRC and TDP. Soon, the auto-rickshaw driver joined the debate turning his head back, ignoring that he was driving on the dangerous Kolkata highway.

He has decided to back the TDP this time, he said.  When tempers ran high, he was thoughtful enough to halt before a cold drinks shop and ordered 10 sachets of water for all the passengers. Then the debate turned towards the freebies.

The driver said ultimately money power will prevail in the election. As the passengers got water sachets free of cost, they all agreed with him. But a passenger complained: “Chengalodu (TDP’s Chengala Venkata Rao) did not spend a single rupee so far. A youth chipped in saying, “I have heard that the YSRC is promising Rs 1,000 per vote.”

However, sympathy factor has become crucial in Payakaraopet byelections, where YSRC and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are engaged in a fierce battle, pushing the Congress nominee G Sumana to the third place.

A large number of weaker sections and minorities were showing sympathy towards Jagan as they got benefits under YS Rajaskhara Reddy rule. Sheik Salim, a tailor and Congress voter, has decided to support YSRC’s Golla Babu Rao this time.

“I do not like to see the face of Babu Rao. He is not efficient. I will vote for YSRC because of YSR and Jagan. Thanks to Rajasekhara Reddy, my two daughters got scholarship. I was unable to provide good education to them. I owe much to YSR and will show my gratitude towards his son,” Salim said.

Salim, however, admitted that it is not going to be easy for YSRC. "There is sympathy for Chengala Venkata Rao as he lost last election by a narrow margin. However, my late parents got old age pension during YSR regime. We have four votes in the family. We have decided to caste one for YSRC and the remaining three for TDP,” Brahman, a Viswa Brahmin, said

Payakaraopet is an SC reserved segment. Both YSRC and Congress fielded Malas, while the TDP fielded a Madiga leader. TDP hopes to get majority SC votes as Congress and YSRC will divide Mala votes between them.

“Around 90 percent of Congress voters shifted their loyalty to YSRC. But, there is not much erosion in TDP vote bank in my village,” said Siva, an ITI student from Pedadoddigallu village. Siva’s family shifted to YSRC from Congress Saidulu, a daily worker, believed strongly that Jagan will implement YSR’s schemes.  “The Arogyasri helped my family.

After the death of YSR, the Arogyasri too died,” he said. Choppa Lakshmi has been a supporter of TDP and says she will remain so. While, YSRC pins hopes on the impact of Vijayamma and Sharmila’s recent road-show, the TDP is expecting division of Congress votes would help the party. “PRP damaged our prospects in 2009.

This time the YSRC would play a similar role in spoiling the prospects of Congress,” TDP worker Nova Raju said. Like in other segments of coastal Andhra, Payakaraopet voters too are expecting good flow of money on the D-day.

“I will demand Rs 1 lakh.  I have 10 votes in my family. There is a talk of a political party distributing Rs 5,000 per vote. I am demanding just double, nothing more,” a sweeper at a hotel was heard telling the owner.

FARMERS WORRIED OVER LOSING LAND

Farmers of S Narasapuram who lost their lands to a private drug firm, say firmly that they would vote for TDP as both the Congress and YSRC were responsible for their misery. The talk of PCPIR corridor and the fear of more farmers losing lands along the coastline of Nakkapally brought unity among farmers and also brought them behind TDP, which is opposing land acquisition.

ANOTHER SYMPATHY FACTOR

TDP too is banking on sympathy factor. Chengala Venkata Rao, who is popular among masses, lost in 2009 elections by just 600 votes. Since its inception, TDP never lost Payakaraopet seat, not even in 2004. “If TDP loses in Payakaraopet, it will not win any seat in the state.  TDP’s cadre is intact in the segment,” a TDP worker Jogulu said.