As the election campaign in Maharashtra ahead of November 20 assembly polls for 288 seats draws closer, charismatic politicians from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are gearing up to woo Telugu voters there. Telangana leaders like Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Union Ministers Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay and few notable others have already hit the campaign trail in support for their respective parties.
Now, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his ally and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, president of Janasena party, who are in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata party, are set to embark on a two day political tour in constituencies where there is a sizeable population of Telugu settlers. Both these leaders will woo voters on behalf on the Mahayuti alliance in which the BJP is a key partner.
TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, who played an instrumental role in the recent general elections, will address two public meetings in Thane and Bhiwandi on Saturday. On Sunday he will attend public meetings in Koliwada and Worli in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan’s itinerary has also been fixed. He is going to attend a public meeting in Deglur constituency of Nanded district in the morning and later in Bhokar constituency. In the afternoon, Pawan will reach Latur and participate in a public meeting. In the evening, he will participate in a roadshow in Solapur city he will attend public meetings in Koliwada and Worli in Mumbai.
On Sunday , he will campaign in the Vidarbha region. He will attend a public meeting in Ballarpur town of Chandrapur district in the morning. In the evening, he will participate in a roadshow in Pune Cantonment constituency and later in Kasba Peth constituency’s election campaign meeting.
Pawan Kalyan’s recent focus on ‘Hindu Sanatani’ principles has made him a sought-after charismatic leader among the Telugu community in Maharashtra. Also, Chandrababu Naidu is a familiar leader who made a strong comeback earlier this year with a historical victory in the general and assembly elections. The BJP feels that both Naidu and Pawan Kalyan can consolidate the vote share of Telugu settlers in Maharashtra.
Estimates suggest there are at least one crore Telugu people living in Maharashtra, with significant populations in around 20 assembly segments, particularly in the Mumbai region and border areas of Telangana. Telugu populations are significant in numbers in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, places like Worli, Borivali, Kamatipura, Ghatkopar, Colaba, Bandra, and Goregaon, and outside the Mumbai region in places like Solapur, Nanded, Jalna, Chandrapur, and Ahmednagar.
In Maharashtra, the BJP, in alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena under the ruling Mahayuti banner, is contesting against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the Congress in the November 20 election for 288 seats. Votes will be counted on November 23.