Contrary to the expectations that Andhra Pradesh will go to polls to its state assembly and Lok Sabha seats in the first phase of election itself, the Election Commission has announced that the elections would be held only on May 13 and the results would be declared on June 4.
The decision has come as a rude shock to the political parties and their contestants in the state. As the elections would be held only in the fourth phase, there are still 58 days to go for the polls – as good as two months.
Now, this is a matter of concern for the parties and the candidates. In fact, the YSR Congress party and the Telugu Desam Party-Jana Sena combine have already kickstarted their campaign extensively.
Both YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his arch rival – Telugu Desam Party president Nara Chandrababu Naidu have already addressed huge number of public meetings and campaigned for their parties.
Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, too, addressed a few rallies, though he is yet to step up the campaign. The Bharatiya Janata Party which has just joined the alliance of the TDP and Jana Sena, is yet to begin its campaign.
Now, all these parties have to sustain their campaign for the next two months, with same old speeches, same old criticism and same old tactics of running down the rivals on social media and public platforms. This will give a sort of vexed feeling to the people.
Secondly, the two major parties – YSRCP and TDP have already announced their candidates (TDP is yet to announce the list of 16 candidates). Jana Sena, too, has almost finalised the list and the BJP will do it in a couple of days.
Now, these candidates cannot sit idle but plunge into action immediately. They have to sustain their prolonged campaign for two months, maintain the party cadre and attract the voters with gifts and other allurements. This would cost a bomb for them and cause a drain in their pockets.
“Had it been in the first phase, it would have been over within a month. Now, it is quite boring and frustrating for the candidates and parties to sustain the campaign for such a long duration,” a TDP source said.
