Win-win scene for Naidu

By Venkat Parsa

New Delhi

July 21: TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu’s decision to forge a broad rainbow political alliance to dislodge the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and thereby, clinch a pre-poll pact with key political players is bound to change the political dynamics in Andhra Pradesh. In the process of cobbling up the rainbow alliance, Mr Naidu has emerged as the kingmaker.

Irrespective of the outcome of the trust vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Naidu stands to gain from the new political realignment that has been cobbled up by him, in his bid to dislodge the government at the Centre.

TDP parliamentary party leader K. Yerran Naidu said, "The coming together at the national-level of BSP and Left parties with the TDP has created a new scope of opportunity for the TDP in Andhra Pradesh."

The coming together of the TDP and the BSP at the national-level would greatly benefit Mr Naidu in Andhra Pradesh. The advantage of the tieup with Ms Mayawati is that she can get her vote transferred to her alliance partner.

There is a sizeable dalit population in the state. The educated dalits, who are politically powerful, as also sections like dalit Christians, could rally behind the TDP.

Mr Chandrababu Naidu, who moved away from the BJP, has managed to reclaim the support-base among Minorities. This is bound to strike at the support base of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, especially among the minorities. The Congress under Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy had got minority votes in the last Assembly elections in 2004. But, with the latest realignment, Mr Naidu is poised to win back the support-base among minorities in the next state Assembly elections.

Despite the fact that he is against the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), he neutralised the party, which will go to his advantage, though he may subsequently dump the TRS during the next state Assembly elections.

Besides, he roped in the Left Front parties. This entire exercise is aimed at evolving a winning strategy for the next Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.

At the ground level, it can immensely benefit Mr Naidu in the evolving political situation in his home state.

With the new tie-up, the Left is clearly prevented from moving away from the TDP, in the backdrop of the political alliance at the national-level.