Just before the launch of his Jai Samaikandhra Party, former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy displayed a small souvenir from the Berlin wall to emphasise that re-unification of Andhra Pradesh was just as possible as was in the case of East and West Germany. Months later, Mr. Kiran Reddy continued to chant the ‘united AP’ mantra, but his mantra and party have just been snubbed by voters.
The JSP’s no-show — failing to take lead in any segment, including Mr. Kiran Reddy’s very own Piler constituency — was complete. That the JSP headed for a crushing defeat was stark as the party headquarters here wore a deserted look.
Analysts blamed the party leadership’s rigidity and its leaders’ arrogance for the drubbing. “As the party’s head, Mr. Kiran Reddy should own responsibility,” a senior analyst said. During his campaign, Mr. Kiran Reddy tried to whip up some fire into his speeches in Seemadhra, but the crowds were far from impressed.
A JSP leader said: “We were not able to reach out to the people. We were outmanoeuvred by the TDP and YSR Congress.” In a consolation of sorts, Mr. Kiran Reddy’s younger brother N. Kishore Kumar Reddy was the sole party candidate who came second. He was defeated by his YSR Congress counterpart Chintala Ramachandra Reddy in Piler.
“This is not only bad for the party, but it’s also bad for Mr. Kiran Reddy who tried to ride high on his united Andhra plank which proved suicidal,” the leader added.
