The electoral battleground in Andhra Pradesh is set to witness a fierce clash as the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, slated for May 13. With an electorate comprising 4.08 crore voters, including a significant proportion of male, female, and third gender voters, Andhra Pradesh braces itself for a dual electoral showdown.
The ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, which clinched 151 seats in the previous assembly polls with nearly 50 percent vote share, is leaving no stone unturned to retain power. Conversely, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which managed only 23 seats in the last election, is vigorously mobilizing resources to stage a comeback.
The YSRCP wasted no time in announcing its candidates for all 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies, aligning with the EC’s election notification. Notably, 50 percent of the seats for both Assembly and Lok Sabha polls have been earmarked for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, and minority communities.
Key constituencies like Pulivendula, Kuppam, and Mangalagiri will witness crucial contests, with Jagan Mohan Reddy, Krishna Raghava Jayendra Bharath, and M Lavanya respectively vying for victory. Meanwhile, TDP, in alliance with NDA and Janasena, aims to reclaim power by fielding candidates strategically across the state.
While left parties, Congress, and other smaller political entities have a diminished presence, the real battle unfolds between YSRCP and TDP. TDP’s recent re-entry into the NDA fold, coupled with pre-poll alliances with Janasena and BJP, adds complexity to the electoral dynamics.
Seat-sharing agreements within the NDA alliance allocate specific constituencies to each partner. Naidu’s TDP, BJP, and Pawan Kalyan-led Janasena have finalized their candidates for respective constituencies, with a few announcements pending. However, discontent among aspirants over seat allocations is palpable, with instances of public dissent surfacing.
Despite internal dissent and party reshuffles, YSRCP remains undeterred in its electoral strategy. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s welfare-centric governance model continues to resonate among voters, as evident from his extensive campaign trail covering diverse regions of the state.
In a bold move, YSRCP aims to sweep all 175 Assembly seats, a slogan epitomized by the term “why not 175”. This ambitious goal underscores the party’s confidence in its governance track record and popular support base.
The entry of Y S Sharmila, Jagan’s younger sister, leading the Congress party into the fray adds a new dimension to the electoral landscape. Despite being marginalized post-bifurcation, Congress endeavors to revive its fortunes in Andhra Pradesh.
As the political temperature rises in Andhra Pradesh, all eyes are on the upcoming election rallies and the finalization of candidate lists by respective parties. With stakes high and competition intense, the Andhra Pradesh electorate braces itself for a pivotal electoral showdown come May 13.
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