Election results 2014: Why Jagan was crushed by Naidu's TDP

Hyderabad: For Jaganmohan Reddy, the defeat in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections have ensured that his hubris has been reduced to debris. Several factors ensured the victory of Nara Chandrababu Naidu who inflicted a humiliating defeat on his bête noire. Here’s what went wrong for the YSRC leader and worked in favour of the TDP. 1. Jagan has rubbed too many people on the wrong side while working his way up. He might have mistaken the sympathy for YSR’s demise–that contributed to his victory in the June 2012 by-election–as support for himself. In addition to this, he never utilized the free airtime allowed by TV channels to let his partymen put across their point of view. 2. He has been masking his arrogant personality with a humble face, which many have seen through. However, he has always tried to brush aside such characterisations as lies spread by his enemies. 3. The groundswell of sympathy he could generate while in prison and soon after his release has disappeared gradually. This was the one thing that always gave an illusory impression to onlookers and analysts – many senior journalists of the country predicted Jagan’s victory in the assembly elections. 4. Jagan has made his party a family organisation. There too, he has kept the control panel with himself without letting others in. In the age of devolution of powers, Jagan hasn’t learnt a lesson from his late father, who used to swallow bitter pills and remained with the Congress despite being at odds several times. 5. The promise of waiver of farm loans by the TDP has proved to be a big hit with the people of Andhra region. Jagan’s defense that he would not make promises that were impossible to implement went completely against him. This was seen as a diametrically opposite approach to what his late father used to adopt. [caption id=“attachment_1529121” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Jaganmohan Reddy in this file photo. Reuters[/caption] 6. Jagan’s opposition to the farm loan waiver faced the same derision from Chandrababau Naidu as YSR’s free power scheme for agriculture sector. The pro-dalit card in the veil of his religious affiliation and his mother’s public display of the family’s religious leanings could only help his party save face. This, however distanced his party to several other sections. 7. Narendra Modi and Pawan Kalyan factors helped the TDP consolidate its political base, while Jagan could not see through the power of the troika’s campaign. He went to polls without working an alliance with any other party. In addition to this, the graft charges against him ensured that he was seen as political pariah. 8. The exit of some leaders from the party was measured by Jagan based on their popularity, but he conveniently ignored the damage potential they carried. 9. Many Congress leaders, soon after realising that their political future was jeopardised by the Congress, immediately knocked the doors of Jagan’s party. This is a fact that is verifiable. But, by announcing the nominees on behalf of his party to assembly and Lok Sabha seats, Jagan closed the options to let such leaders join his party. Almost all of those disgruntled elements were accorded a warm welcome by Chandrababu Naidu into the TDP. Aside from this, he placated his own party leaders and accommodated the newcomers. 10. Cadre building isn’t easy for any party that hasn’t come to power at least once. And, for Jagan too, it is no different. Precisely, for that reason he has not been able to establish an organisational set-up. 11. Meaningful dialogue on several issues in numerous politburo meetings that strategised the party’s way forward for the TDP was badly missing in the YSRC. It was mostly monologue in his party, which led to young and promising leaders too to face a humiliating defeat. 12. Soft-pedaling with the BJP and occasional ranting of a possible support to Modi, who solidified his political alliance with the TDP,  cost Jagan very dearly, especially in terms of the minority vote. 13. Large-scale voter turnout usually is seen as a positive factor for a new political force. But it went in favour of the TDP-BJP combine this time and the new young voters went gaga about Pawan Kalyan in Andhra Pradesh. 14. Poll management skills were abysmal in the YSR Congress. Several leaders sought delegation of responsibilities but fearing the prospect of a threat to his leadership, Jagan did not let the power go out of his hands within the party. 15. Being amid the people does pay huge dividends to any politician, but he cannot ignore back office work. Chandrababu is deft at both and there is no surprise in his getting on to the saddle. Jagan said he would accept the role of being the state’s main opposition with grace, and said his party had begun taking baby steps towards this role three years ago. If only he were as mature earlier.