If the claims of the Telugu Desam and the YSRCP are to be taken at face value, Andhra Pradesh will have two chief ministers. One of them, Chandrababu Naidu will be sworn in on 25 May at the Nagarjuna University Grounds in Guntur. The second, YS Jaganmohan Reddy will take the oath of office and secrecy on 26 May at the Indira Gandhi stadium in Vijayawada though the Nagarjuna University is also on the radar.

Both parties are expressing confidence in public that they are coming to power on 23 May. The reason for this bravado is also strategic as party leaders have to ensure the morale of their cadre is high. That is because a lot of mischief can take place even on counting day (More on that in another article on Political Pickle)

If Jagan makes it past the post, he is likely to indulge in a bit of YSR-ism. In 2004, YS Rajasekhara Reddy was sworn in at the Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad and he signed the first file on free power supply to farmers at the stage itself. Jagan too may do the same, signing files relating to the implementation of the Nava Ratnalu (the nine promises) he made during his 3600 km long padyatra. 

Naidu has formed a TDP state-level committee to monitor the counting process while the YSRCP has complained to the Election Commission that it fears that some pro-Naidu officers will try to create confusion in the counting centres. 

Within the YSRCP, there is also anticipation over who will make it to the Jagan cabinet should they form the government. The TDP ridicules the hope, pointing out that the YSRCP had carried out a similar exercise in 2014, in vain.

(Photo courtesy : Sakshi Post)