Hyderabad, April 21: The three major political parties have started feeling the pinch of fast changing caste equations in the politically sensitive coastal districts as the second phase of elections are going to be held on April 23.
The ruling Congress is jubilant over the last minute developments in caste-centric politics. The second rung leaders in the Praja Rajyam have started withdrawing from the campaign after realising the depressing prospects of the party.
At many places, the Congress leaders are persuading them to keep “quiet” in the crucial week. Information reaching here from the districts indicate that both the Congress and the PR leaders are lobbying to ensure that “strong” candidates in the two parties win.
“If the PR candidate is strong in one constituency, they are seeking the Congress support and if the Congress is at an advantage, they are taking the help of PR cadre. The sole aim is to stop the TD,” said a Congress leader in West Godavari district.
The rivalry between the Kapu and Kamma castes is quite strong in villages and Kapus joined the PR in large numbers when Chiranjeevi floated his party. But the situation has changed now. Kapus, who deserted the Congress, are now wondering if their vote for the PR will actually benefit the TD in a triangular contest.
“The traditional votebanks of the Congress had deserted it to support the PR. Now, with reports indicating that Chiranjeevi cannot win on its own, many of us are thinking about supporting the Congress,” said a prominent Kapu leader.
The PR leaders are also not sure of winning the number of seats it had targeted earlier in the Godavari districts.
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