Ever since the meeting with YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and TRS working president K T Rama Rao happened last week, TDP leaders in Andhra Pradesh are on cloud nine saying that AP people will not digest TRS-YSRCP friendship and this will ensure clear victory for TDP in upcoming Assembly polls.
AP TDP leaders are hoping that TRS-YSRCP friendship has flared up 'Andhra sentiment' in AP and people will vote for TDP enmasse in AP Assembly polls like people in Telangana voted for TRS one-side unable to digest TDP's friendship with Congress in recent Telangana Assembly polls.
TDP leaders say like Telangana people rejected Congress for joining hands with "Andhra party TDP' in TS Assembly polls, Andhra people will reject YSRCP for joining hands with "anti-Andhra" and "Telangana party" TRS'.
But the question arises is whether "Andhra sentiment" really exists like "Telangana sentiment".
The recent TS Assembly polls prove beyond doubt that "Andhra sentiment" is a myth and non-existent.
If there was "Andhra sentiment" as being believed by TDP, why did TDP candidates lost elections in Kukatpally, Jubilee Hills, Uppal, Sanathnagar, Sherilingampally, Qutbullapur, where there is considerable Andhra population.
If there was "Andhra sentiment", why did "Samaikhyandra agitation" in AP did not last even for a month, to prevent bifurcation of AP.
If there was "Andhra sentiment" why did KCR, Harish or any other TRS leaders like Talasani Srinivas Yadav, are getting a rousing reception, whenever they are visiting Andhra and AP people setting up banners, hoardings welcoming TRS leaders.
Except for few student organisations for some days, there was no support from other sections in AP for Samaikhyandra agitation, which became untraceable soon after.
This shows, Chandrababu is banking too much on 'non existent Andhra sentiment' to win AP Assembly polls under the pretext of Jagan meeting KTR.