The other day Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters in New Delhi that there are no chances of early elections in the state.
He said if there was any such plan, YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy would have dissolved the assembly by now, so that the Election Commission would commence the process.
But sources within the party say Naidu is still apprehensive that Jagan might suddenly take a decision on the early elections only to surprise the opposition.
This talk is going on in the party, even as reports from New Delhi indicated the possibility of the Centre going in for simultaneous polls across the country in March or April.
Naidu apparently feels his arch rival – YSR Congress party president and chief minister might spring a surprise by dissolving the assembly.
“He has his own moles in the BJP, who pass on information to him regularly about the central plans. Maybe, he got the hint from his sources that Jagan might go for early elections,” sources said.
Perhaps, that is the reason why Naidu stepped up his public outreach activity in the recent past with one programme or another. It is a do-or-die battle for the TDP chief and hence, he does not want to take any risk.
Starting Friday, the TDP has launched a door-to-door campaign in the name of “Bhavishyattu ki guarantee” (A guarantee for your future), to take the welfare schemes promised in the party manifesto to every door step.
The TDP workers would be highlighting the point that if the party is elected to power, a family of four would benefit to the tune of around Rs 1.22 lakh per annum through the promised schemes. The party plans to cover all households in the state in 45 days.
Simultaneously, Naidu is gearing up to visit at least 30 assembly constituencies — three to four a week — in the coming days. He had already visited 145 segments.
The party leaders say even if Jagan doesn’t advance the elections, it is always better to be ready to face the polls whenever they are held, so that the cadres are geared up always.
Sources said Lokesh would also make changes in padayatra schedule and speed up the tour, so that he would be fit for contesting the elections if they are advanced. He might complete the yatra by November. He would cover a greater distance every day and then focus on the poll campaign.
