Senior leaders of the Telugu Desam are annoyed. Not because quite a few exit polls that have predicted a loss for Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh but because their political intelligence failed to spot in time a strategy employed by the YSR Congress in the run-up the elections on 11 April. 

TDP leaders claim that the buzz that Jaganmohan Reddy was coming to power and that he ought to be given a chance was artificially created.

“We came to know now that three months back, YSRCP strategists arranged for money to be given to many autorickshaw drivers. They were told to indulge in political conversation during the ride and talk about how Jagan will be good for Andhra. Similarly salons were given money and during the 10-15 minutes when barbers would have a customer as captive audience during a haircut or a shave, they would indulge in Jagan praise and say he will come to power. Similarly temples were given money. This is how the propaganda machine was operated to create that buzz,” said a senior TDP leader.

While admitting it was clever strategising, the TDP dismisses any possibility of such mindgames converting into votes. Its leaders say the women voters in Andhra Pradesh will never want Jagan to become chief minister. 

YSRCP leaders however, say people wanted the party to come to power since they are fed up with the TDP rule of five years. They say that the TDP sees defeat looming large and hence are resorting to spreading such rumours.