Sharmila’s mission sends TDP, Cong in a tizzy

Late YSR’s daughter Sharmila’s Padayatra, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, is sending chills down the spines of the ruling Congress and the main Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as well.

Much before she is to embark on her mission, both the parties have already started weighing their prospects in the coming polls.

Ironically, it is the TDP that is expecting huge response to Sharmila’s walkathon than the YSR Congress party itself, for which she is undertaking the mission. Though overtly the TDP leaders refuse to admit that Sharmila will draw huge crowds, in their internal discussions however, they all agree that she is certainly a crowd-puller and that with her oratorical skills she would greatly influence the public.

Though the TDP seniors do not have any clue on Sharmila’s priorities on which she will focus during her 3,000-long padayatra, they are sure that whatever subjects she will dwell upon they will have serious impact on their party’s prospects at the hustings, even if the Assembly polls are much far away.

That Sharmila addressed massive rallies during the last bypoll campaign is still fresh in the minds of these leaders and they recollect, although with a touch of criticism, the rapt attention with which the people listened to her. No doubt they are confident that their party president N Chandrababu Naidu too is drawing big gatherings along his route of his ongoing Padayatra, they are, however, skeptical whether the crowds or voluntary or mobilized.

Sitting in Hyderabad it is difficult to assess the ground reality, they say but agree with the view that the crowd response to Naidu’s speeches is not on the expected lines. They have already begun comparing Naidu’s exercise with that of Sharmila and even express apprehensions, rather openly. That Sharmila’s Padayatra will not touch the places that Naidu has till now toured is certainly a solace to them, feel analysts. Also, the only district that Naidu has till now toured, Ananthapur, is not on Sharmila’s itinerary.

The situation in the ruling Congress is no different. From the top leaders to the grassroot-level cadre, the word that is doing rounds is Sharmila’s Padayatra. In the past couple of days, any two Congress leaders meet at a place, the discussion turns towards YSR Congress prospects in the coming polls and Sharmila’s mission to go to the people.

With a woman undertaking such an exercise for the first time in the State’s history and she being the daughter of a towering personality like the Late YSR, naturally she becomes the focal point of political debates, admit Congress circles.

Already villagers even at far away places too are gearing up to welcome Sharmila and this is an indication the strength of crowds that will gather for her rallies, is what upsetting the Congress leaders.

No only this. They even express apprehensions of large-scale desertions once Sharmila is on the ground. Unable to comprehend what is there in store for them, they only reminisced how many had till now switched loyalties and how many more are there to tread their path in each district en route Sharmila’s walkathon.     

- Prasad@Sakshipost