Polling trend a hot topic in AP politics

••2019 election experience reveals anti-incumbency reason for high voting percentage 

Patibandla Srinivas

([email protected])

Amaravati: The polling trend in Andhra Pradesh politics is now a hot topic in the parties and among the people at large. The reports suggested that the polling percentage registered was 81 in Andhra Pradesh which is higher than the average of neighbouring Telangana and other states in the country elections were held on par with the State.

The debate began everywhere in the state on high polling percent whether it would be favourable the Opposition Telugu Desam or the ruling YSR Congress.

As per the experience of previous elections in 2019, the polling percentage registered close to 80 percent it was a similarity to the present polling trend. Then the ruling TDP analysed whether the high voting percentage was favourable to the ruling government. Then the TDP government opined that the Pasupu-Kumkuma scheme money distribution to women accounts with Amaravati capital construction, and Polavaram projects would have played a major role in the election result. So the high voting percentage was favourable to them, the TDP leadership opined.

Read this article also

But the people of Andhra Pradesh had given a landslide victory for the then Opposition YSR Congress. It was a clear example of an anti-incumbency factor that works. Presently political analysts opined the State government had faced a huge anti-incumbency factor from people of various sections.

The reasons for anti-incumbency are increasing prices of essential commodities, electricity charges hike, lack of employment, no development on par with other states, stalling of Amaravati capital construction and Polavaram project, liquor and sand selling policies, and the recent Land Titling Act.   

Indeed, the YSR Congress dominated the TDP in the electioneering for the last three days including the polling day. Similarly, the YSR Congress shifted its voters from neighboring States by providing special buses on a large scale.  

Though it had worked hard in all poll management aspects, the anti-incumbency factor was a major challenge to the YSR Congress to win the election. As per the reports, the neutral voters, government employees, and 10 lakh first-time voters are major opposition to the government.

The anti-incumbency factor and youth voter turnout are the reasons for the high voting percentage, said a political analyst and senior journalist A Brahmaiah. He further said that the previous election result experience taught the lesson in this regard.