The political future of the State has already been decided by voters, locked and stored in EVMs, but voters as well as contestants have to endure a nailbiting wait of over a month till the results are declared.
Andhra Pradesh went to polls on April 11, in the first phase of elections conducted across the country. Candidates who contested in the first phase of polls will have to wait for 41 days to know their fate. Some feel such a long wait is unwarranted in this digital age, when almost everything is near-instant.
The EVMs can give out immediate results at the end of the day’s polling, but candidates will have to wait till May 23 when the Election Commission of India will declare countrywide results in one go.
Leaders sound upbeat
The candidates are putting up a stiff upper lip, vehemently denying that there is any suspense over the outcome of the polls. YSRCP candidate for Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat, Potluri V. Prasad, said that there was no suspense as he is sure of victory. After a hectic round of campaigning for his party, Mr. Prasad said that he "hung up his boots on the night of April 11 and chilled out with friends". The very next day, he was back in his office at Chennai. "I will go to Hyderabad and spend some time with my daughter before she leaves for England," Mr. Prasad said.
TDP candidate for Vijayawada West Assembly constituency and daughter of former MLA Jaleel Khan, Shabana Khatoon, said that on the top on her agenda was spending time with her children. "I was not able to devote any time at all to them while I was on my campaign. Now, we are planning to go to a hill station and relax," said Ms. Khatoon, who was at her sister’s home in Hyderabad when contacted.
YSRCP Vijayawada Central Constituency candidate Malladi Vishnu said that he was in Shirdi on a pilgrimage. He said that he was visiting with his family to seek the blessings of Sai Baba for a favourable outcome.
Results notwithstanding, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Jana Sena Party joint candidate Chigurupati Babu Rao has embarked on padayatras of all the 20 municipal divisions in his constituency to thank voters.
"The day after the elections, I participated in a protest rally in Bhanu Nagar where a road was dug up and left like that because of the election code," he said.
The next day, Mr. Babu Rao organised a felicitation for all his party workers who worked tirelessly for his campaign. He launched his thanksgiving padayatras from the third day.
Auspicious number
For some of the candidates who harbour an interest in astrology, 41 days is an auspicious number. Devotees of Ayyappa observe ‘Deeksha’ for 41 days. Ramadan and Lent are observed for 40 days. However, what is ironic is that the fruits of the ‘Deeksha’ at the end of the 41-day period are not reaped by all. While some taste victory, others will have to wait till the next elections to try their luck again.
While many candidates have gone back to their usual routine, others have taken off on pilgrimages or to hill stations to beat the heat. Many are finding this an opportune time to sit back and relax with family members, relishing a break from politics.
Leader of the Opposition Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and president of Jana Sena Party Pawan Kalyan have returned to their residences in Hyderabad. While Mr. Jagan has gone back to criticising the TDP, Mr. Kalyan is said to be recovering from severe dehydration. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has also returned to work, stating that administrative matters cannot be kept waiting till the results are declared.
