Kiran Kumar Strategy For Kadapa Bypolls

Chief Minister N Kiaran Kumar Reddy's poll-strategy for the ensuing Kadapa bypolls reminds one of 'Padmavyuham' strategy, adopted in the epic Mahabharatham that cornered Abhimanyu. Of course, the same strategy was also adopted in 1996 by then chief minister Chandrababu Naidu against late YS Rajasekhar Reddy. Though Naidu could not stop YSR winning the Kadapa seat, but succeeded in drastically reducing YSR's winning margin to just 5000 votes. The Congress party feels that a similar game plan would help to bring down the majority of YS Jaganmohan Reddy, even if Congress fails to win over the seat.

The unique feature of the strategy is to ensure presence of a large number of police and prevent rigging to the extent possible and motivate people to come out and vote. Following the same strategy, already 50 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in Kadapa and another 80 companies are expected to arrive after the ongoing polls in the five states. In addition, 5,000 armed reserve and special police have also been deployed in seven assembly segments of Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency. Apart from this, more than 2000 women constables and nearly 1500 home guards will also be deployed in Kadapa Lok Sabha segment. The strategy is clear, on one side, more number of police will be deployed so that Jagan and his followers cannot indulge in rigging and on the other,  the polls will be held under direct control of the administration.

Another aspect of the strategy is to devide the electorate on the lines of caste and religion. While Kanna Laxminarayana is trying to woo Kapu votes in Balija-dominated areas, former CM Rosaiah and minister TG Venkatesh have been asked to campaign in Vysya-majority areas. Minister Ahmadulla, former minister Shabbir Ali, deputy chairman of legislative council Mohd Jani are camping in Muslim dominated areas. Ministers D Manikya Varaprasad and Sailajanath are given the responsibility of villages where the SC population is more.