It is election time in India and it has been very interesting at national level but Andhra Pradesh assembly elections has everything in it considering the entrance of Chiranjeevi and TDP allying with TRS and Communists to beat the common enemy, Congress. As with every election anywhere at any level, AP assembly elections naturally has unimaginable alliances, huge controversies, costly goof ups, heavy strategies, provocative speeches and some inspiring speeches.
Chiranjeevi's entry was compared to NTR's entry into politics by those who believe that South Indians like their film personalities in politics more than the North Indians. Times are very different now and then. In 1982, there was a need for an alternative as the national party (Grand Old Party in Indian context) became a party that doesn't care for people and Rama Rao felt a need for an alternative to teach a lesson to the Grand Old Party. It is said that Rajiv Gandhi did not meet Chief Minister of AP, Anjaiah back then in Hyderabad Airport and it was one of the incidents that NTR pressed in all his campaign speeches across Andhra Pradesh back then. It was an insult to the Telugu people and NTR cared deeply for self pride of Telugu people and he felt Congress failed in all aspects in restoring the self pride of Telugu people.
In 2009, we face entirely different set of challenges and an alternative to TDP and Congress will definitely be of some relief to people of Andhra Pradesh. But, Praja Rajayam Party did not differentiate itself from main stream parties and I feel that Chiranjeevi will be on the wrong side of political history of AP. He had a great opportunity but his family members screwed his aspirations. He neither has the basic understanding of issues nor has the oratory skills, which were forte for Nandamuri Anna, NT Rama Rao. PRP thought it would sell if they start talking of Social Justice but they will have to define the term to masses and explain what PRP intends to do to achieve Social Justice. Their thinking that this phrase will get them minority votes isn't really well thought about. Chiranjeevi is good as a movie star and people will appreciate him doing just that.
I predicted some alliances in Andhra Pradesh when I poste about Bye elections but the actual alliances are not even close to what I predicted. I could never imagine TRS joining hands with TDP; TDP was for united Andhra and TRS core agenda is separate statehood for Telangana; TRS chief Chandra Sekhar Rao left TDP to start TRS and accused Chandrababu in very harsh words in many instances. I haven't fully learned from the history on the alliances part. Anything can happen! Anybody can join hands with anybody irrespective of their ideologies. I think there is only one party at that values ideology more than wining and that party is none other than Loksatta. Loksatta has been neglected by main stream media but you cannot ignore a party that got 12% vote in the bye elections that occurred in 18 assembly constituencies last year. Jaya Prakash Narayan, founder of Loksatta movement that became political party now, is more like Ron Paul than Barack Obama in Indian context. He talks well in the language he choses to talk. He has highest understanding of issues that country faces and he has experience running the Govt. during NTR's term. He is eligible to run our state but I have mentioned in one of my posts that a guy like Ron Paul cannot win elections as people do not vote for leaders who speak truth. Loksatta Party may not be as big now for media to cover but come 2014 (next) elections, LSP will be a major force to reckon with.
Few incidents that this assembly elections would be remembered for -
1) Pawan Kalyan's comments against the leaders of Congress especially the calling of Shabbir Ali a traitor (telugu word used - "Deasha Drohi")
2) Shabbir Ali's nasty response to Pawan Kalyan's comments and reminding people of the old incident with late Paritala Ravi in which Pwan's head was tonsured by Ravi's gang.
3) Shobha Rani's comments against Roja
4) Roja's response to Shobha Rani's comments where she accused Chiranjeevi and Pawan of casting couch
5) The raise of Jr. NTR as a good orator and future of TDP
6) Jr. NTR's involvemt in an accident that occurred on the way back to Hyderabad
7) Kesineni Nani's open comments to TV9 on P. Upendra abusing Kamma caste
in a PRP meet
8) Posani Krishna Murali scolding Kesineni Nani that there is importance to Kamma caste in PRP
9) Jeevitha and Rajasekhar's continued comments against Chiranjeevi with a hope that Jeevitha will be picked as Mahila President or something in Congress
10) Evangelist Brother Anil Kumar surrendering to the police after cases registered against him for distributing money in Church meetings to people
11) Posani Krishan Murali's temperament in media interviews triggered some speculation on his mental strength
These are just some and it could have been a bigger list if I was in Hyderabad.
I am predicting that PRP will play a key role in forming the Government and also for going into early polls. I am not sure how early it would be. Personally, I want Loksatta to win at least 3 seats this time to have an impact next time around.
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