The Congress party, which ruled Andhra Pradesh for decades before falling out of favour with voters after the State’s bifurcation, will once again witness a resurgence, according to party observer Manoj Chauhan.
“It is only a matter of time. Like the prodigal son, traditional Congress loyalists who are now with the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) will return home soon,” said Mr. Chauhan, one of the two observers appointed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for the Andhra Pradesh elections. Mr. Chauhan landed in Vijayawada on March 29, and has since then been touring Lok Sabha constituencies to gauge the pulse of the electorate in the State.
Brimming with enthusiasm, Mr. Chauhan said he came across Congress supporters in every village that he has visited. “There is a strong anti-incumbency sentiment prevailing in the State. Corruption is a big issue and people have come to realise that no development has taken place, as the YSRCP government was busy distributing freebies to woo the voters,” he said, adding that people are not too keen on voting for an “opportunistic alliance” either — in a reference to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) joining hands.
