The Election Commission of India (ECI) unveiled the election timetable for the 175-member AP Assembly, in addition to the general election schedule.
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, set to coincide with the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, have been scheduled for May 13, 2024. Noteworthy is the simultaneous polling for the Lok Sabha on the same date. Following this, the crucial date for counting votes is June 4, 2024. The Election Commission of India (ECI) officially announced on the poll schedule for the 175-member AP Assembly, along with the general election, on Saturday, March 16. As anticipation builds, the state is gearing up for a compelling three-way contest.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024: Poll schedule announced:
| AP Assembly Election date 2024: | Voting on May 13, Result on June 4 |
The battle lines are drawn between the ruling YSR Congress Party, spearheaded by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy; a formidable three-party alliance comprising BJP, Telugu Desam Party, and Jana Sena; and the Congress, with its state unit now under the leadership of YS Sharmila, Jagan’s sister. The political landscape is sure to witness intense campaigning and strategic maneuvers in the run-up to the elections.
As a component of the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be contesting in 10 seats, the Jana Sena in 21 seats, and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the remaining 144 Assembly seats. This strategic partnership aims to consolidate support across various constituencies, leveraging the strengths of each party to pursue a common political agenda collectively.
On the 14th of March, Jana Sena leader and prominent actor, Pawan Kalyan, officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming Assembly elections in the Pithapuram constituency. Meanwhile, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has disclosed a total of 128 candidates thus far. Fast forward to Saturday, the 16th of March, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) made headlines by unveiling its comprehensive list of 175 candidates who will be contesting in the impending Assembly polls.
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the YSRCP emerged victorious by securing a significant 151 seats, showcasing a strong mandate from the electorate. In contrast, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) faced a challenging outcome with only 23 seats to their name. The YSRCP’s impressive win was bolstered by a notable 50% vote share, underscoring their widespread support. On the other hand, the TDP garnered a modest 39% vote share, reflecting a lesser but still significant backing.
A minimal 0.84% vote share marked the BJP’s presence in the elections, whereas the Jana Sena Party managed to secure a more substantial 5.53% share of the votes. The Congress, with a vote share of 1.17%, maintained a presence in the electoral landscape. Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party encountered a disappointing defeat, with only one candidate emerging victorious, who later switched allegiance to the YSRCP, highlighting the dynamics of political alliances. Notably, Pawan Kalyan’s electoral journey saw him contesting from two seats, both of which he lost, reflecting the challenges faced by the Jana Sena Party in the electoral arena.
In the preceding Assembly elections, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Jana Sena Party participated as separate entities. Notably, the TDP and BJP ran independently, whereas the Jana Sena Party formed an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Left-wing parties for their electoral campaign.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) decided to exit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2018 due to the BJP-led central government’s refusal to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Following this development, efforts were made to bring about the reformation of the TDP-BJP-Jana Sena Party (JSP) coalition, a process that was spearheaded by the influential figure, Pawan Kalyan.
The YSRCP, on the other hand, has experienced a significant surge in defections. Several leaders, including current Members of Parliament, have decided to depart for a variety of reasons. These reasons often stem from discontent with the party’s decisions regarding ticket allocation, prompting a notable shift in the party’s internal dynamics.