Riding high
In politics, it all comes down to the numbers
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-04-28 01:08 GMT
What stands out in this election in Andhra Pradesh? Besides the arguments made against the Telangana-Seemandhra bifurcation, the three main regional parties in the state — the TRS, TDP and the YSRC, have pushed their children to the forefront in the battlefield.
Sharmila Reddy and Lokesh Naidu have restricted themselves to just campaigning for their party while K. Kavita, armed with an ambitious plan — is contesting from the Nizamabad parliamentary constituency.
And if one were to rate their performances, going by reports from the ground, political novice Sharmila seems to be winning the contest hands down... Closely followed by Kavita. Elections 2014 then, has indeed witnessed the rise of stree shakti!
The size of crowds Sharmila has been drawing is phenomenal and her addresses sound like they’re coming from a seasoned politician. She jumped into the fray to complete her brother Jagan’s padayatra soon after he was arrested and since then there has been no looking back. Her attacks are witty, relatable and surgical. Recent classics include the “mental case” salvo against actor Balakrishna, in which Sharmila said, “slapping thighs and twirling moustaches makes one a good actor, not a good leader”.
“Her speeches have a very human touch to them. This from a newcomer is indeed stunning,” said a political commentator.
Sharmila on her part remains set on the target.
“My journey has been emotionally difficult. Dad has always been my motivation. And now I am my Anna’s arrow.”
Meanwhile, K. Kavita, despite having made her place and position clear and secure in the party now, hasn’t had it easy as there were more important family members aspiring for the same space. She’s however very clear about her agenda, set up a foundation with the cultural body of TRS called Telangana Jagruthi and has been relentlessly working towards getting a foothold with the electorate. She rarely drops her father’s name.
“That’s been a very conscious decision on my part to make a name for myself, instead of just being tagged as KCR’s daughter. This is how Telangana Jagruthi was set up. It’s an independent forum and also neutrally deals with people’s issues. So many years of hard work has made me an independent person and I am confident that this will help me win.”
But what about the boys? Where is their campaign going wrong?
Lokesh Naidu is just a couple of road shows old, so maybe he needs more time to connect with the masses. Ever since he decided to help dad Chandrababu Naidu with party affairs, he has largely restricted himself to the role of a behind-the-scenes operative — tweeting his ideas at best.
But the general opinion of those who have attended his campaigns is, “While Lokesh was okay with addressing even a small crowd in the Hindupur segment in Anantapur district, the dialogue delivery resembled a corporate office meet and not an election campaign. There was no connect with the voter. And much of his speeches are aimed at just YSRC bashing.”