Tirupati, Feb 7: Notwithstanding his vigorous efforts, the United Front convener and Telagu Desam Party (TDP) president Narra Chandrababu Naidu could well draw a blank in Tirupati and the Chittoor district, to which he belongs, in the coming Lok Sabha polls.The reason is neither the spate of suicides by cotton farmers nor the chief minister reneging on his promises, but just the anti-establishment sentiment in Naidu's home district.
As elsewhere in the state, the congress appears to be on a strong wicket in both these constituencies, though a majority of the assembly segments in the district are at present held by the TDP. While M Gnanendra Reddy of Congress will face N Ramakrishna Reddy of TDP and NP Venkteswara Chowdary of BJP in Chittoor, in Tirupati the contest will be between the former minister of state for petroleum Chinta Mohan of the Congress, N Sivaprasad of the TDP and N Venkatswamy of BJP.
Chinta Mohan (present Congress candidate from Tirupati) who won the seat on TDP ticket in 1984, laterjoined Congress due to his differences with N T Ramarao. Mohan had won from Tirupati three times in a row in 1984, 1989 and 1991.To counter the growing anti-TDP sentiment and reduce the Congress prominence in Chittoor, Naidu started working on winning the dissidence in Congress to his side. The TDP's victory, particularly in Naidu's own district is a `must', otherwise the Congress and BJP may mount pressure on him demanding his resignation on moral grounds.
Against this back-drop, it is reported that Naidu has initiated secret meetings with the important Congress functionaries at his private house in Madanapalli town. However, the Congress leaders rule out the possibility of differences among the district leadership.
Reacting to the reports the district Congress leaders questioned why Naidu shall worry about our party, while asking him to concentrate on his party problems to win the polls. However, they did not agree to the idea that the dissident activity will spoil the poll prospects of theircandidates.While this is so, the BJP is improving its position in Chittoor. Former MP Chrangi Naidu joined BJP which necessarily divide the Naidu community vote, which may be a deciding factor.
BJP leaders are confident that it will wean away Congress vote bank in urban and semi-urban areas, and TDP's vote bank in rural areas. Another factor which will undermine the chances of TDP is the brunt of star-turn-politician Mohan Babu. The suspended leader has vowed to bring down the Naidu rule in the state and started his campaign for BJP candidates in the state. He has already completed first round of his campaign in the district and is expected to undertake another election tour before the election date.
Both the Congress and TDP will have to look for support from among the undecided voters, who are considered to be in big number, as the district has no issue to react to either side. Congress is placed better than others on this front since it can easily attract the anti-establishment voter towards it.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
