Andhra poll scene hots up as parties aim for ad-vantage

A silhouette,identified by the beard and heavy voice as of N Chandrababu Naidu,is being interviewed by an invisible journalist.

A silhouette,identified by the beard and heavy voice as of N Chandrababu Naidu,is being interviewed by an invisible journalist.

Your opinion on Congress survey which says that it will win?

Not only the Congress survey,every survey shows that Congress will win, replies the silhouette.

Will the grand alliance benefit TDP or Congress?

It will benefit Congress only because it is not going to benefit anybody else.

Your opinion about YSR?

Politically,I may be opposed to him but personally,I admire him. I have been left with the image of an information technology chief minister,he has got the image of one who cares for the poor.

Two little birds are wondering: What is the difference between former president Musharraf and YSR? Musharraf intended to stay on as president forever anyhow,YSR intends to stay on as the king of corruption.

Who between the two is great?

Definitely,YSR because he supports all the corrupt officials,he is there for his sons Saakshi newspaper too.

What happens to such a chief minister?
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People who are concerned about their families,their lives and their state will throw him out.

Move over road shows and public meetings. This is the season for bone-tickling politically loaded advertisements that are being bombarded daily on a plethora of 24-hour Telugu news channels as parties prepare for elections. The Telugu Desam Party TDP which started these advertisements has now been joined by the Congress,Praja Rajyam Party and Lok Satta Party.

Everyday,the parties come up with new,out-of-the-box ads while repeating the older ones intermittently which means almost every news bulletin is followed by these political advertisements. Some are serious while others draw guffaws like a Congress advertisement showing itself as an elephant chasing away dogs,that are barking among themselves and throwing mud at one another. The dogs represent all the other parties.

As new ads,reflecting daily developments in the parties and a satire on current affairs,come up daily,they have got audiences hooked to them. Since most of the ads are anonymous,it takes a while to comprehend who released the ad and why.

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In one of the advertisements TDP founder late N T Rama Rao is shown venting his anger on his son-in-law and present TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu,calling him a cheat and unreliable. Entitled NTR Atma Garjana NTR souls roar,it counters TDPs Yuva Garjana youth roar held last year in Guntur. The ad appears to have been issued by the Congress.

While the Congress and TDP have made it very personal,Praja Rajyams ads are focusing on lack of development,upliftment of poor and promising change with the punchline for change,Praja Rajyam,which is mostly delivered by the film star-turned-politician himself.

Party spokesperson Dr P Mitra Reddy says Chiranjeevi himself is appearing in some ads being shot for release later.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More