Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is likely to campaign for the Maha Kootami in the upcoming elections in Telangana.
According to media reports, Naidu to conduct roads shows in as many as 18 constituencies and in some constituencies, he would share the dais with Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
The campaign programme would be decided after Rahul completes electioneering in Madhya Pradesh in the last week of November.
Most of the constituencies Naidu would be touring would be in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, besides some other constituencies in the southern Telangana.
But the question is whether Naidu’s campaign will be of any help to the Congress party. Apparently, Naidu wants to take a strong message into the people about why the TDP had joined hands with the Congress party, besides ensuring that there would be effective transfer of votes from the TDP to the Congress and vice versa.
Since it is a do or die battle for both the Congress and the TDP, Naidu has taken the decision to campaign in Telangana to sustain his party and also generate an atmosphere of opposition unity across the country. It would also be a morale booster for the TDP cadre in Telangana.
However, analysts feel it might do more damage than good to the Congress party.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi has already making extensive campaign raking up the Telangana self-respect sentiment in the people.
It is accusing the Congress party of surrendering to the TDP for the sake of votes. And it is also alleging that Naidu is pumping in more than Rs 500 crore for the Congress campaign.
Even if there is no damage, Naidu’s campaign will not of much help to the Congress, as he does not represent the spirit of Telangana.
“People do not see him as a Telangana leader at all. So, his campaign hardly makes any difference to the Maha Kootami,” an analyst said.