In Seemandhra, it’s raining political parties

In Seemandhra’s political scenario, it’s a problem of plenty. Till recently, power alternated between the Congress and the TDP. Now, with the State in the throes of division, there are at least six parties vying for power.

The near political bankruptcy of the Congress, a direct fallout of its controversial decision to bifurcate the State, and the unclear stand of the TDP on the issue, are the major reasons for the political vacuum and the consequent sprouting of new political parties.

Seemandhra will see the Congress, BJP, TDP, YSR CP, Jai Samaikyandhra Party and Jana Sena along with the two left parties slug it out for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats. Going by poll surveys, YSR CP, thanks to YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s pro-poor schemes, is ahead of the others. The party has taken a strong united AP stance.

Kiran Kumar Reddy, who emerged as the most vocal ‘integrationist’, launched the Jai Samaikyandhra Party recently. Close on the heels came the cinematic entry of ‘Powerstar’ Pawan Kalyan with his ‘Jana Sena’. The 43-year-old brother of Chiranjeevi wants to tap his popularity among the State’s youth. While the stated reason for his political foray is to question issues such as corruption, bad governance and State division, political analysts feel the inner agenda could be to consolidate the strong, but dispersed vote base of the Kapu community in four districts.

The TDP and the BJP, which are likely to forge an alliance, have the potential to attract the powerful community, as well as the youth. Will Jana Sena spoil their party? Is Pawan an extension of Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party base, where he had a minor role? These are some questions doing the round.

The Congress is seeing a rapid erosion of its base in Rayalaseema. While Kadapa continues to go with Jagan, in Kurnool, Chittoor and Anantapur, almost all its top leaders, including Kiran, have quit the party. Likewise, in the nine coastal districts, the Congress is plagued by desertions.

Newly-appointed APCC(I) chief N Raghuveera Reddy has his task cut out.

Though, overtly, the Congress is making brave attempts to entice people with promises and packages, it is pinning hopes on the strong performance of Jagan for a possible post-poll alliance.

If the changing political equations have brought an air of excitement, the new parties have only raised the chances of a fractured mandate. How political uncertainty will shape a new state is to be seen.