All these days, Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had been keeping away from the active politicking in Telangana, though his party is contesting the assembly elections in Telangana.
He had left the battle field to his Telangana TDP leaders, whether it is seat sharing with the Congress and other allies or the campaigning in the constituencies.
Of course, he was giving directions to the Telangana TDP leaders from Amaravati itself and he did not even evince interest in campaigning for the party in Telangana.
Now, Naidu seems to have changed his mind altogether. Reason: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaders have started attacking Naidu directly, rather than tackling the Telangana TDP leaders.
Initially, Naidu did not react strongly and even asked his party leaders not to make any counter attack on the TRS or KCR.
But after KCR intensified his attack on him at the public meetings and at the press conferences, accusing him of damaging the Telangana interests, Naidu decided to shoot back.
Another reason for Naidu changing his mind is the support extended by Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan to the TRS and indirect support from YSR Congress party as well.
He is perhaps apprehensive that Pawan might eat into the votes of Andhra settlers by campaigning for the TRS.
That is precisely why Naidu readily agreed to campaign in Telangana, when the Telangana TDP leaders requested him to do so.
Though he did not indicate specifically, he would address at least half a dozen public meetings in the areas dominated by Andhra settlers.
During the public meetings, Naidu wants to convey to the people of Telangana that his party will not be a hurdle to any of the projects or development in the state and his interest was only to see that Telugus in both the states prospered.
Secondly, he wants to convey that the TDP had joined hands with the Congress not to rule the Telangana, but as part of his nation-wide mission to create an anti-BJP coalition.
And to appease the Seemandhra settlers, Naidu is planning to send the message that the presence of the TDP in Telangana was essential to protect their interests.
