Vijayawada: YSRC leaders seem to be having the last laugh with the new-found bonhomie between the TD and the Congress. Calculations of a shift of vote banks among both the parties in the upcoming polls aside, YSRC leaders’ reading is that the TD is set to face rebel trouble in at least 30 to 40 seats. These seats include those that will go to the Congress as part of the alliance and seats where TD supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu had inducted into the TD, YSRC MLAs who are more than 20 in number.
In a closely fought election, especially in a three-cornered fight among the YSRC, Jana Sena and TD-Congress alliance, 30 to 40 seats is not a small number. Seats that go to the Congress as part of the poll pact is expected to give severe heartburn to party ticket aspirants in those Assembly constituencies. Though Mr Naidu may assure these aspirants of compensating them in some way if voted to power again, they are unlikely to heed this since there will be a lot of competition for nominated posts. The YSRC thinks that these leaders may work against the party prospects subtly in their constituencies and may damage the chances of the alliance candidate that will have an impact on the overall tally.
Similarly, TD ticket aspirants may spell trouble for those candidates who have joined from the YSRC, if fielded by Mr Naidu. The TD supremo, among various other assurances, had also promised seats to contest to all those who decided to jump the fence. He banked upon the proposal of increase in the Assembly seats that was assured in the AP Reorganisation Act where he wanted to accommodate the YSRC MLAs. But now that the Centre has turned down the pleas of Mr Naidu to increase Assembly constituencies, he is in a quandary.
“There will be real rebel trouble to the TD-Congress alliance in the upcoming polls. TD ticket aspirants will definitely spell trouble in the seats that go to the Congress and also in those which may go to candidates who joined the TD from the YSRC on the assurance of a nomination by the TD. It is going to be a big headache in at least 40 seats for Mr Naidu. And 40 is not a small number. For us we may face such a situation in some seats, but not in so many as the TD will face,” said a YSRC leader.
