Naidu’s message appears simple: welfare may be launched with the press of a button, but unless a leader is among the people, the wrong signals can reach voters.
A Naidu lesson in connecting with the people
Pressing the right public-mood button can make the difference between successful messaging and poor politics. For AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the act of pressing buttons by his predecessor and bitter political rival Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has come in handy. Declaring the other day that he became Chief Minister not to sit in his office and press buttons but to be among the people, Naidu took a dig at Jagan, who during his tenure launched welfare programmes remotely by pressing ceremonial switches in his office. Naidu, who said he visits people four times every month, has been racking up the road miles. He also did what a leader has to do — remind people that voters created history in 2024 by giving the TD-Jana Sena-BJP alliance 54 per cent of the votes and 94 per cent of the Assembly seats. Naidu’s message appears simple: welfare may be launched with the press of a button, but unless a leader is among the people, the wrong signals can reach voters.
Lokesh’s hands-on investor pitch
Minister Nara Lokesh is adopting a proactive, solutions-driven approach to Andhra Pradesh’s investment ambitions. At a recent investor conference, his remark, “I am like the Dolo 650 of Andhra Pradesh,” neatly captured his pitch as a troubleshooter for investors. By combining hands-on problem-solving with a focus on lasting institutional solutions, Lokesh is placing investor confidence at the centre of his agenda — signalling accessible leadership and an emphasis on delivery.
Patrudu clears the view for son rise
When does a politician call it a day? For outspoken AP Assembly Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, it might be when his son Ch. Vijay’s political career takes off. Hinting that he may be ready to leave the hurly-burly of political life, Patrudu, at an event in D. Yerravaram in Anakapalli district, laid out his plans. Saying he is now 70 and wants to settle in Arunachalam with his wife to lead a spiritual life, Patrudu told the modest gathering that people should start looking at electing younger leaders. The message appeared to carry another hint — that his son should be given support to build his political base.
It’s Jana Sena vs Jena Sena as polls draw close
As political parties gear up for the upcoming local body elections, the Jana Sena in Visakhapatnam appears preoccupied with internal differences. Vizag South MLA Vamsi Krishna Yadav has come under criticism from within his own ranks, with senior Jana Sena leader Bolisetty Satyanarayana publicly questioning his commitment to the party’s ideology and alleging that his business interests have taken priority over party work. At the same time, party leader Murthy Yadav has been confidently projecting Jana Sena’s prospects in the GVMC mayoral race. The contrasting messages have left cadres puzzled. With leaders pulling in different directions, grassroots workers are left wondering whether the party can keep its focus on the electoral battle ahead.
CK family tied up in knots
Once regarded as a political strongman in Chittoor politics, C.K. Babu may be facing changing equations in his one-time stronghold. Local political watchers point to his wife C.K. Lavanya’s reported efforts to muster support for her bid for the Chittoor mayor’s post as evidence of the challenge. One hurdle is Babu’s political past. He was once close to Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, later joined the YSRC and eventually moved to the Telugu Desam. His earlier differences with the TD are now reportedly being cited by some alliance leaders opposing Lavanya’s candidature. But all may not be lost for her, with Chittoor MLA Gurajala Jaganmohan Naidu reportedly backing her. For now, the CK family is knocking on several political doors. Whether they open — or old political baggage keeps them waiting — remains to be seen.
Srinivas Goud’s home tour backfires
A home tour apparently meant to showcase the good life has instead opened the door to a different kind of scrutiny for BRS leader and former minister V. Srinivas Goud. In a video shared on social media, Goud takes a YouTuber around his lavish Hyderabad villa, proudly displaying its interiors, furniture and other trappings. Netizens, however, appeared less interested in the décor and more curious about the price tag. Social-media users began putting their own numbers on the villa and its furnishings, with estimates ranging from ₹35 crore to ₹50 crore, and turned to Goud’s election affidavits for comparison. Questions also surfaced over how a former government employee in undivided Andhra Pradesh acquired such a lifestyle after entering politics. The reaction apparently proved too hot for the host, and the video was taken down from Goud’s social-media accounts. By then, however, the tour had checked out and the internet had checked in. Congress and BJP handles began circulating the video, alleging corruption during the previous BRS regime.
Will NRR swap cushy job for MLC fray?
Will he or won’t he? That is the question doing the rounds in the BJP. With graduate constituency MLC polls on the horizon, speculation is growing that Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao may enter the fray, hoping to keep the party’s momentum going in the Legislative Council. The contest carries added significance, as the two graduates’ constituencies cover around 76 Assembly segments and are being viewed as an important test of public sentiment ahead of the next round of Assembly elections. Ramchander Rao, a former MLC from the Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahbubnagar graduates’ constituency, is no stranger to this electoral terrain. He won the seat in 2015 before narrowly losing it in the next election. The real question, however, is whether he will exchange the comfortable chair of state BJP president for the less comfortable terrain of electoral politics. Contesting could strengthen his personal standing and boost the party’s campaign, but it would also mean stepping down and giving up the prestige attached to his current post. For now, the party is preparing its cadre, while political watchers wait to see whether Ramchander Rao chooses the president’s chair — or the ballot box.
Contributions from: Md Ilyas, K.M.P. Patnaik, Avinash P. Subramanyam, Aruna, Sampat G. Samritan, L. Venkat Ram Reddy, Neeraj Kumar
