After the outcome of the recent by-elections in the state in which YSR Congress party headed by Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy registered a resounding victory, political pundits predicted that he would focus on destabilizing the Congress party by attracting as many MLAs as possible into his party. They thought there would be large scale exodus of the Congress MLAs into YSR Congress.

But, surprisingly, it did not happen. Apparently, Jagan had different ideas. He asked the Congress MLAs to wait for some more time. In the meantime, he shifted his focus on to destabilizing the TDP in its own strongholds in the coastal Andhra region, rather than weakening the Congress party. The defection of Gudivada MLA Kodali Nani into the YSR Congress party is being viewed in this angle.

Party sources say Jagan’s strategy is to lure the Kamma community, which has been the backbone of the TDP in Krishna and Guntur districts. While 99 per cent of Reddys have already shifted their loyalties from the Congress to the YSR Congress, a section of Kapus are still strongly with the Congress, thanks to the merger of Chiranjeevi party.

So, the best way for Jagan to consolidate his position in the coastal region is to attract the Kammas, who are opposed to Kapus in the coastal region. The Kammas have apparently realized that there were little chances of the TDP coming to power in 2014, too; and therefore, the best way to get their interests protected is to sail with Jagan.

This way, Jagan would be able to prevent splitting of anti-establishment vote and emerge victorious in the next elections!