Poaching ticket-seekers a new mind game in play

Amaravati: As the election campaign picks up momentum, Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a new phenomena this time. Normally horse-trading begins in case of a hung assembly and desertions from opposition to ruling party take place if the ruling party has absolute majority as is being seen in Telangana these days.

But in Andhra Pradesh horse-trading has begun much before the polls. It is like private bus operators vying to attract passengers. "No seat in your party, come to us we will give you. Our aim is to defeat the opposition party," this appears to be the motto of political parties. This is the new kind of mind game that is being played now. Interestingly, even senior leaders are becoming players.

For instance, the YSRCP spread a rumour of TDP sitting MLA and minister Ganta Srinvasa Rao shifting his loyalty miffed over his being deprived of the Bheemili seat. Though it started as a rumour in WhatsApp groups, it then spread fast on the social media and websites, eventually making its way into some newspapers and TV channels too.

The rumour was generated on the presumption that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's son Lokesh would be fielded from the Bheemili Assembly constituency, from where Srinivasa Rao was elected in 2014.

After the rumour, both Lokesh and Srinivasa Rao were forced to give a statement that there were no differences between them. Ganta said he was ready to leave the Bheemili seat for anyone who wants it. In fact, Ganta had never contested from the same seat for the second consecutive time.

Thanks to the social media, rumours spread like wildfire that another TDP senior leader and Labour Minister Pithani Satyanarayana was all set to join YSRCP. The minister vehemently denied reports on his joining the YSRCP as baseless and politically motivated. He accused his political rivals of indulging in a mind game only to damage his political and electoral prospects by creating confusion.

Meanwhile, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao at one point of time kept his option of joining YSRCP open as it was not clear whether TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu would give the Narsaraopet Lok sabha ticket to him or not. Even while the issue was being discussed in the TDP politburo meeting, speculation started making rounds that YSRCP leaders got in touch with Rayapati and were trying to rope him into the party.

However, the party finally decided to put up Rayapati as its candidate from Narsaraopet. Another interesting aspect this time is that there are now three chief minister aspirants. They are Chandrababu Naidu who wants to retain his number one position, the YSRCP president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy who feels it is now or never situation and the new entrant into politics Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan.