Former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is out of jail on an interim bail bringing Diwali twelve days ahead for the supporters and admirers of the Telugu Desam Party. Naidu came by road from Rajahmundry to his residence in Undavalli.
The distance of around 175 Kilometers was supposed to take 3 hours for Naidu but it has taken around 14 hours as Naidu scripted history in Andhra Pradesh politics as well as TDP history.
Chandrababu who is the longest-serving Chief Minister in Telugu history was more of an administrator than an orator. He wins the elections with his vision and administration but is never into drawing huge crowds. But what happened on Tuesday is very different.
Thousands of people regardless of Gender and age lined up all along the route of Naidu to take a glimpse at him and lend their support in his battle against a government that is known for its vendetta politics.
Usually mobilizing people is quite common in politics but this is something really different. Naidu was in jail for 52 days and has lost every single legal battle in the ACB court, High Court, and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on Naidu’s Quash petition for around three weeks now.
There is no hope whatsoever and the chance for mobilization is very slim because there is no time.
Also, the mobilized crowd will not stand on roads late at night and early morning. Naidu’s journey went on until 6 AM in the morning.
And the reception is the same everywhere and the police just gave up controlling the crowds.
Several young women are also seen waiting after midnight. Considering all these factors, if someone still believes this is a mobilized crowd, they simply do not understand politics.
This is something that never happened in Telugu politics. Probably, there were some of these scenes during NT Ramarao’s days but even by that yardstick, this is simply the biggest rally ever in terms of the people’s support.
Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government grossly underestimated the ‘sympathy factor’ and they should understand what Vendetta politics can do.
From filing one case after the other just before the elections to trying to ensure that restrictions were placed on his political activity, Jagan has sent a wrong signal to the people that he is trying to trouble 73-year-old Naidu and wants to face an election without him.
With elections just six months away, This rally will keep TDP leaders and party workers enthused, motivated, and energized, with the confidence that victory is just a political fight away. In a way, Naidu should thank Jagan for making this happen.
If the Supreme Court gives a favorable verdict in the Quash petition, probably, there will probably be no stopping for the Telugu Desam Party from here.
