The secrets behind TDP’s surprising win

Visakhapatnam: Growing discontentment among several sections of people and success in forging an alliance and an effective campaigning strategy coupled with sympathy generated after the arrest of former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has led to a landslide victory for the Telugu Desam Party and its allies.

The winning margin in various constituencies across the State including Rayalaseema, considered a bastion for YSRCP and the comprehensive mandate have even surprised the political pundits, strategists of the TDP, Jana Sena Party and BJP alliance. The outcome right from the word ‘go’ was beyond the expectation of everyone. Even the exit polls did not predict such a decisive mandate in favour of the alliance.

Effective campaigning by the alliance partners and the confusion of over three capitals and discontentment among the teachers and non-gazetted government officers over denial of the old pension scheme and failure to release job calendars led to erosion of the support base. The three capital plan - Visakhapatnam as executive capital, Kurnool judicial capital and Amaravati as legislative capital, which YSRCP claimed was aimed at decentralised development, did not take off triggering utter confusion.

The way the Pay Revision Commission was implemented irked the employees and the teachers. TDP was also successful in wooing the 1.60 lakh sachivalayam volunteers by promising to double their honorarium and promising to implement ‘Super Six’ and provide free bus travel to women.