The three-week long high decibel campaign for the elections to Andhra Pradesh assembly and 25 MP seats from the state came to an end on Tuesday evening.
Now, the ball is in the court of 3.96 crore voters. The so-called “poll management” by the political parties, particularly the Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress party, will begin now and next 36 hours would be crucial for them in winning the confidence of the electors.
Everybody is curious to know who will be the next ruler of Andhra Pradesh for the coming five years.
Will it be Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu again? Or will the people vote for change and elect YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy?
Of course, Jana Sena Party chief and actor Pawan Kalyan is also claiming that he is going to form the next government. And so is evangelist politician – Praja Santhi Party president K A Paul.
Almost all the surveys, by national and local agencies and media houses, predicted that Jagan is going to be the king in Andhra after May 23. The mood of people in Andhra Pradesh, as felt by independent journalists, also appeared to be in favour of Jagan.
But there is always a slip between cup and lip. One cannot underestimate Chandrababu Naidu as well. He is an astute politician and has the capability to win the elections by hook or crook.
He will definitely use all his political skills to turn the tide in his favour. But, if the people have decided to vote against him, nobody can change their decision.
Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena might not get more than half a dozen seats, at the most, but there is a talk that he will split considerable number of votes in several constituencies.
Who will gain and who will lose from his party’s presence in the fray is yet to be ascertained. After all, ground realities are always different from what the analysts think.
There will be some clarity on Thursday evening, though exit polls cannot be disclosed till May 19, till the last phase of polling is done. Till then, let us keep our fingers crossed!
