K Chandrasekhara Rao came to power by whipping up Telangana sentiment in 2018. In Andhra politics, such regional sentiments usually do not work. Even if they are there, they will not work like a miracle. It’s because Andhra voters are divided across caste and religious lines vertically. The scene has changed to a large extent this time. There is an under current of Andhra sentiment which is in a subtle, steady form.
While KCR used abusive and offensive language to raise T-sentiment, Chandrababu Naidu is just sharply criticising Jagan, Modi and KCR. Naidu’s game plan is clear. He does not use offensive language like he never did in his four decades of long political career. But he is bringing up Andhra sentiment in an indirect way. Thus, anti-Modi and anti-KCR sentiments are building up across the state, which is raising pro-Andhra sentiment eventually.
It is in this respect that the opposition YCP is not able to take full advantage of anti-government factor. Even Jana Senani Pawan Kalyan is not able to make expected impact just because he is not fully addressing Andhra sentiment. Analysts say that like Telangana, there is a chance the TDP will finally get an edge by riding the sentiment wave.
