Are They Naidu Fans Or Jagan’s Haters?

Opposition leader and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu is drawing huge crowds to his road shows and his public meetings. The huge success of Chandrababu’s Kurnool visit raises eyeballs. Despite the fact that Naidu lost the previous election and is aged 72 years and Kurnool is YSRCP’s bastion, the public response is startling. This is raising pertinent question whether the crowd attending Naidu’s shows are his fans or are they YS Jagan’s haters who are frustrated with his governance. 

Let’s go back to the era before 2019 where Chandrababu Naidu was the Chief Minister, then Jagan Reddy, who was in the Opposition, used to bring in huge crowds. Be it his charisma as YSR’s son, sympathy among people where he was jailed and the family was kept away from the power or Jagan’s youth and dynamism and his speeches, he commanded people in large numbers.

Cut to the present, Jagan Reddy is now in the ruling and Chandrababu is in the opposition. As the 2024 battle gets closer, Naidu is aggressively moving and reaching out to the masses. There is no denying that Jagan is a mass leader and Chandrababu is a ‘class’ leader who is more identified with his administration, vision, tech-savvy and investment, infrastructure development person. Yet, Naidu drawing mass crowds is certainly a welcome boost to the TDP. 

The morals and strength of TDP leaders got a big boost with the humongous success of Naidu’s public meetings. Naidu’s speeches are also cut short and made pin-point. Naidu is maintaining a fine balance between the state development and attacking Jagan Reddy. Besides breathing fire on Jagan’s governance, Naidu is highlighting opportunities to youth, jobs and investments. These are certainly a plus point for Naidu. He is maintaining that he would continue the government welfare schemes and promising investments, jobs. This is where Naidu is scoring brownie points.

All these are naturally raising temperatures among YSRCP cadres. YSRCP leaders are doing everything best to stop or weaken Naidu’s programmes and even sending direct threats to villagers to avoid attending Naidu’s events. If this is not enough, a section of YCP leaders tried to block CBN’s convoy. They also did a Dharna in front of TDP Kurnool office where Naidu was present. YCP cadres demanded 3 capitals and did dharna in front of Naidu which is shocking. All these are sending signals among the public that the opposition is being targeted by the ruling party.

Seasoned politician Chandrababu is converting these into his advantage. He is also stating that false police cases are being imposed against TDP leaders which is getting acceptance from crowds. Meanwhile, Nara Lokesh is prepping up with a one-year long Padayatra to stay with the people beginning with Jan 27 from Kuppam to Ichchapuram in Srikakulam. We have to wait and see how YCP comes up with strategies to take on Chandrababu.