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Monday, July 21, 2008
Will YSR say yes to early state polls?
Even as the UPA government fights a grim battle of survival in New Delhi, interested quarters are wondering whether the state would go to the polls too in case the Manmohan Singh government tumbles. But highly placed sources indicate that chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy is dead against going for early polls. His calculations are based on the premise that the benefits of programmes like Indiramma housing project will be fully felt by the electorate if the state government is able to be in office till the end of its term. This would be an electoral advantage for the ruling party, YSR feels, say sources. This line of thought has been obliquely referred to by the chief minister in his recent public utterances including at the Collectors' conference last fortnight.
Further not clubbing the state elections with the general elections (if they happen early) would also allow the state government the advantage of benefitting from the experience of the general elections. Additionally, holding the national election under a Congress regime would have its own spin off.
If the Manmohan Singh government falls on Tuesday, general elections would be probably held in November. State elections are slated for four months later ie. March next year.
But not all Congressmen or allies of the Congress party are convinced by this argument. They feel that in the case of early elections, the two polls should be clubbed. "No party is ready for early elections. Delaying them would allow Chiranjeevi's camp to ready for the election and even Devender Goud and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP. Early elections would catch them unawares and put them at a disadvantaged situation," said a Congressman.
He adds: "The Congress can at least manage but these parties will be all at sea." Having two set of elections would also increase the costs but here the Congress may be better placed than opposition parties because of its better resource base.
A leader from a party sympathetic to the Congress pooh-poohs the line of argument attributed to YSR. "All these schemes will have only limited political impact. Whether elections are held three months earlier or later would not make any difference." He adds: "If Indiramma is so crucial, why have Rs 2-a-kg rice, cheap pulses and the like," he wondered.
Though YSR has considerable clout with the Congress high command, an aide of the chief minister when quizzed about the matter said that in this matter probably the high command will have the final say. In other words more than YSR it will be Sonia's voice that would be crucial.
Further not clubbing the state elections with the general elections (if they happen early) would also allow the state government the advantage of benefitting from the experience of the general elections. Additionally, holding the national election under a Congress regime would have its own spin off.
If the Manmohan Singh government falls on Tuesday, general elections would be probably held in November. State elections are slated for four months later ie. March next year.
But not all Congressmen or allies of the Congress party are convinced by this argument. They feel that in the case of early elections, the two polls should be clubbed. "No party is ready for early elections. Delaying them would allow Chiranjeevi's camp to ready for the election and even Devender Goud and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP. Early elections would catch them unawares and put them at a disadvantaged situation," said a Congressman.
He adds: "The Congress can at least manage but these parties will be all at sea." Having two set of elections would also increase the costs but here the Congress may be better placed than opposition parties because of its better resource base.
A leader from a party sympathetic to the Congress pooh-poohs the line of argument attributed to YSR. "All these schemes will have only limited political impact. Whether elections are held three months earlier or later would not make any difference." He adds: "If Indiramma is so crucial, why have Rs 2-a-kg rice, cheap pulses and the like," he wondered.
Though YSR has considerable clout with the Congress high command, an aide of the chief minister when quizzed about the matter said that in this matter probably the high command will have the final say. In other words more than YSR it will be Sonia's voice that would be crucial.
Labels: A.P.Politics
# posted by gopi @ 6:24 AM 
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