The mandate of the recently concluded elections to the local bodies in Andhra Pradesh was clearly against the ruling Telugu Desam party's anti people policies. Though TDP emerged as the largest party in these elections, the results were not up to their expectations. It shows clearly that the mandate is against the TDP’s anti-people policies. The people did not respond positively though propaganda about the government’s developmental activities was organised in a big way. In the TDP strong hold of coastal Andhra districts though Congress gained still TDP could retain its hold.

On June 22, notification was issued for Zill Parishad Territorial Candidate (ZPTC) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Candidate(MPTC) local body elections. Elections were held in two phases, for eleven districts on July 12 and in the rest eleven districts on July 15. Results were announced on July 17. Out of total 14591 MPTCs, TDP won 6350, Congress 5651, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) 1043, CPI(M) 294 and BJP 279 MPTCs.

Out of total 1094 ZPTCs, TDP won 512, Congress 445, TRS 84, CPI(M) 15, CPI 8 and BJP 13.

The elections to the chairman, vice-chairman and co-opted members for mandal praja parishad and zilla parishad was held on July 22, 23. TDP won 466 mandal parishads, Congres(I) 414, TRS 74, CPI(M) 20, CPI 17 and BJP 7, CPI(ML) New Democracy 3 and BSPI, independents won 34 seats.

In the elections to chairman for zilla parishads, TDP won 12, Congress(I) 8 and TRS 2. The CPI(M) won vice-chairman and two co-opted members in Khammam zilla parishad and vice-chairman in Nalgonda zilla parishad. The CPI won vice-chairmanship of Vishakhapatnam ZP and co-option member in Nalgonda.

Though TDP emerged as big party in these elections, results wee not up to their expectations. It shows clearly that the mandate is against the TDP’s anti-people policies. The people did not respond positively though propaganda about the government’s developmental activities was organised in a big way. In the TDP strong hold of coastal Andhra districts though Congress gained still TDP could retain its hold.

In ZPTC elections, TDP was kept behind the Congress in Visakha, Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Medak, Khamman Cuddapah and Chittor districts. In Anantapuram, East Godavari, Krishna, Mahabubnagar, the fight between Congress and TDP is neck to neck. In Vizainagaram district Congress and TDP got equal number.

In MPTC elections TDP was kept behind Congress in Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Medak, Krishna, Khammam and Cuddapah. The fight between Congress and TDP is neck to neck in Anantapuram, Chitoor, Mahabubnagar, Nelore, Vizaingaram and Warangal districts.

Congress is happy with its unexpected performance. In seven districts Congress is ahead of TDP. In five districts TDP and Congress are neck to neck race in ZPTC. In MPTC seats Congress is ahead of TDP in six districts. In seven districts the fight is neck to neck.

Telangana Rasta Saithi (TRS) got more seats I Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts of the People’s War Group (PWG) naxlite influenced areas.

BJP was worst effected party in these elections. It is limited to only 13 ZPTCs. It contested 43 ZPTCs with TDP alliance and 180 ZPTCs on its own. BJP leadership is not in a position to digest this set back and blaming the TDP for these bitter results.

Though these are local body elections, the major political parties conducted election campaign considering it very prestigious. Normally local factors influence these types of elections, campaign was held and promises were given, as if it were the assembly elections.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited throughout the state by helicopter and conducted meetings at 69 places. He wrote letters to members of all self-help groups one crope people by by spending 3 crore rupees and stressed on his developmental programmes. As if this is not enough, he utilised money and liquor in a big way. Having done all these undignified activities, he is blaming others for the defeat, which was nothing but self-deception. The TDP leadership answered the criticism of gaining 29 ZPTC seats unanimously in wrong methods that the people elected them by seeing their developmental programmes. After results, they responded that the people could not understand the development they had done.

The main cause of the defeat of the TDP was the implementation of liberalised policies in the state, which are the part of anti-people’s policies pursued by the government at the behest World Bank. The state government hiked the electricity charges heavily by Rs 800 crores. Besides this, with the failure in giving minimum supportive price to the farmers, indifference towards helping weavers, disinterest in taking up Godavari water created projects, deterioration in law and order, growing corruption altogether discontentment among different classes. The consequences of all the effects were a severe blow to the TDP. But they are not ready to introspect on all these policies.

The Congress(I) could not compete with the DP in propaganda but promised free power to the farmers. The growing discontentment on TDP has naturally helped for the Congress (I). The results partly helped to boost the moral of the Congress (I). We can’t say that the people had a confidence in Congress (I)’s policies and turned towards them. As the Congress(I) was the main opposition party and had organisational structure throughout the state, it got benefit by gathering anti-TDP votes.

The TRS was not left behind TDP in the election propaganda. It competed with the TDP whirlwind tours by helecopter, huge gatherings and using propaganda instruments. The Congress and TDP were major loosers because of TRS.

Though the People’s War gave a call to boycott elections, the people participated in the voting in large number. Having seen the voting, we felt that the people have not cared about the election-boycott call and the people’s war group itself seemed to have encouraged the people to involved in the voting by throwing the winds their policy.

Besides the Congress (I) and the TDP, New Democracy gave a call to defeat the CPI and the CPI(M). They contest 36 ZPTC seats and 255 MPTC seats won 3 ZPTC and 52 MPTC and 5 MPP seats.

CPI(M) and CPI could come to seat adjustments only in limited places. The CPI alligned even with TDP in Khammam district, Ramanapeta in Nalgonda district and at some other places. It effected badly the task of defeating the TDP-BJP front for which we are working unitedly. We wrote a letter to CPI state leadership on this issue. There is no reply till today. In Nalgonda and Khammam districts, in some pockets, where we are strong, TDP and Congress tried to defeat us unitedly.

We felt tht to fulfill the main task of defeating TDP-JP front, we have to avoid the mutual contest with the Congress.

We decide to prevent mutual contest with the Congress(I) to fulfill the main responsibility of defeating the TDP and the BJP. But the attitude of Congres(I) was a setback in practice. We prevented the contest only in 17 ZPTC and above 230 MPTC seats.

We lost 13 ZPTC and 64 MPTC seats comparing with the past elections. We had alliance with the TDP in the past and won 358 MPTC and 28 ZPTC seats. We contested 1073 MPTC and 80 ZPTC seats in these elections and prevented the contest with the Congress(I) in 17 ZPTC seats and 233 MPTC seats of this. We bagged only 103 MPTC and 3 ZPTC seats. The rest of the seats were bagged by contesting with the Congress(I) and the TDP.

These were the first elections after 1999 Assembly elections. Though our party’s popularity had grown with the agitations conducted recently, the results revealed our weakness in transforming our popularity into votes due to lack of party machinery in all places. Though very limited number, these are certain instances when our comrades worked contrary to our political line. Complete details are yet to be reached.

It is clear that out party mass base is still weak. Only with the unleashing of militant struggles in a big way, our base will be strengthened.