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2022 Presidential elections: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh on different sides

The Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are supporting different candidates in the Presidential elections.

ByDeeksha Devadiga

Published Jul 13, 2022 | 7:26 PM ⚊UpdatedJul 26, 2022 | 11:08 AM

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu (Creative Commons)

As the date for the Presidential election approaches, political parties in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are trying to make their presence felt on the national political scene.

The political parties in the Telugu-speaking state are not mincing words about their choice of candidates for the election.

All the major political parties in these states, which have the numbers to make a difference, have now publicly shown support to either of the candidates, the NDA’s Droupadi Murmu and the United Oppositions Yashwant Sinha.

Murmu enjoys Andhra support

In the runup to the 18 July election, Andhra Pradesh’s main opposition Telugu Desam Party’s president N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, July 11, extended its support to Murmu after the party’s strategy committee meeting in Amaravati.

Naidu in the meeting said Murmu would be an inspiration to the downtrodden sections of society for leading a simple life.

He added that the party takes great pride in extending support to a great tribal leader like Murmu.

రాష్ట్రపతి అభ్యర్థి ద్రౌపది ముర్ము గారికి మ‌ద్ద‌తు ప్ర‌క‌టించిన తెలుగుదేశం పార్టీ,ఆమెను ఘ‌నంగా స‌న్మానించింది.ఎమ్మెల్యేగా,మంత్రిగా,గవర్నర్ గా విశేష సేవ‌లు అందించిన‌ ముర్ము గారిని టిడిపి ఎమ్మెల్యేలు,ఎంపీలు, నేత‌ల‌కి టిడిపి జాతీయ అధ్య‌క్షుడు @ncbn గారు ప‌రిచ‌యం చేశారు. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/jG6MSUUFIW

— Telugu Desam Party (@JaiTDP) July 12, 2022

Thus, three MPs and 23 MLAs from the TDP, along with the lone MLA of the Jana Sena, will back her.

Murmu visited the state on Tuesday as part of her election campaign, and was hosted by both Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Naidu.

The Jagan-led YSRCP announced support to Murmu much earlier. Therefore, Jagan, with his 22 MPs and 151 MLAs, is also throwing his weight behind her.

Thus, Murmu is all but assured of the votes of 175 MLAs and 25 MPs from Andhra Pradesh.

Former Andhra Legislative Council member and political analyst K Nageshwar, explained to South First, “There is no cause, no consequences, no impact of the presidential elections. Who will bother about the presidential election later?”

He added: “The YSRCP and the TDP quarrel at the state and support the BJP at the Centre. This shows their political hypocrisy.”

Telangana prefers Sinha

Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha has bagged the majority support from political parties in Telangana.

TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, opposing the politics of the BJP, has extended its support to Sinha.

However, the TRS has denied the possibility of an alliance with any other party in the state to support Sinha.

This is in reference to the Congress, whose Telangana unit has also extended its support to Sinha.

President of @trspartyonline Sri KCR Garu has decided to extend support to the candidature of Sri @YashwantSinha Ji in the election for President of India

Along with our Members of Parliament, I will be representing the TRS at the nomination today

— KTR (@KTRTRS) June 27, 2022

“State politics impact presidential elections, and not the other way around. The TRS supported Ram Nath Kovind because they were friendly with the BJP at the time,” explained Nageshwar.

“Now they are opposing the BJP, so they are opposing the candidate,” he added.

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted his party support for Sinha.

AIMIM legislators will be voting for opposition candidate @YashwantSinha in the #PresidentialElections. Mr Sinha spoke to me on call earlier as well.

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) June 27, 2022