Elections: Andhra's fate hangs

[vivek]

At the end of phase 2 much of the mist over who is leading has cleared. Exit polls suggest NDA to return to power assuming that the BJP’s lead will translate into an NDA victory. While all this is happening, the state of Andhra Pradesh is commanding our attention. The final verdict of the people at the end of the day for this state is ambiguous.



The optimism with-in TDP is strong. So strong that it makes us ignore the fact that the exit polls predict a Congress win. Some say there has been a sampling error in Andhra Pradesh which makes the exit polls here in-accurate. The exit poll results are used to project the final tally of the assembly. To do this the past data is used to plug-in the error margin and to infuse some real assumptions. If exit polls in Andhra show anti-incumbency despite all these then we have two reasons for this. The first, given the level of optimism the sampling for exit polls should have gone wrong. Second, the Congress would really be leading depicting the anti-incumbency sentiment. Please note that no state government has stayed in office for three consecutive times. That gives us two possible alternatives for Andhra Pradesh



#1 – TDP back to power

This would mean a vibrant Hyderabad. With an International airport, Formula 1 circuit, a world class under ground railway network and twenty-four seven Krishna water supply Hyderabad would be the place to settle. While Telengana continues to make noise on basic amenities not being available and farmers depending on natural modes of irrigation. However, he (the farmer) would be provided with internet kiosks to log a request for a pump set installation which CM himself will address live on state television using a video conferencing facility from the district collector’s office.



#2 – Congress – TRS alliance to power

No Formula 1 track , may be an international airport. Hyderabad would probably stagnate for few years. However, if Congress supports, the state of Telangana would be formed. Now here is the trouble. The head of Telengana Rashtriya Samithi, K Chandrasekhar Rao would like to make Hyderabad the capital of Telangana which would command the nation’s attention. In a recent interview the TRS chief has predicted violent repercussions if Hyderabad is not given to Telangana. A backward area like that can be quite an issue to be handle, even if the center offers assistance. The whole turmoil that TRS would create (with the apparent threat of the PWG activists) would lower investor confidence. Forget Formula 1, even the much needed investments in the power sector will suffer.



There is still fair amount of mist in Andhra

[vivek]