Last Ball Six: KTR Woos Andhra Voters. Will This Work?

AP opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest and BRS’ harsh stand against the IT employees and protestors in Hyderabad seem to have backfired. As several media reports and surveys indicate Andhra settlers – particularly one major community – distancing from the BRS has become a great worry factor for KTR and his party. As a damage control move, KTR made his swift move. He appeared on ABN RK’s Open Debate With RK where he openly admitted that he could have been softer.

“I didn’t say anything wrong on that day. What I said was that Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest is related to a political war in Andhra Pradesh. If that political conflict spills over here is not good. I had expressed that it is causing inconvenience to the public here. The way I expressed it may not have been ideal. I may have needed to speak more sensitively on that day, and I accept that.”

KTR also talked about the bond he shares with Nara Lokesh. He said he had received his first message from Nara Lokesh after reports of his falling down from his campaign van at Armur, Nizamabad. “Lokesh and I talk regularly and have a friendly relationship. Similarly, over the last 6 months, Chandrababu Naidu has praised the Telangana government at least 10 times.”

Talking about Chandrababu’s health, KTR said Naidu is hale and healthy. He expressed that Naidu could lead the politics for another decade. He also said KCR and Chandrababu are younger than PM Narendra Modi. Also, KTR said unlike in AP, Telangana and KCR don’t want to opt for “vendetta politics”. Citing Chandrababu’s arrest and cases against Ramoji Rao, KTR said the BRS didn’t utilise the note-for-vote scam against the opposition and didn’t opt for revenge politics. He said that crossing the lines is not right.

Overall, KTR’s Open Debate With RK has become a hot topic in political circles. Clearly, it is indicative to woo a section of voters who seem to be going distant from the BRS. But will the “last ball six” attempt work? Will KTR and BRS succeed in winning the votes of Andhra settlers? This is a million-dollar question now.