With just three days left for the polling in the high-stakes assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, both the Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress party are learnt to have roped in their party affiliated groups of non-resident Indians (NRIs) into the campaign, directly and indirectly.
Both the parties have their own wings among the NRIs and they are actively involved in the electioneering for their respective parties.
Apart from campaigning in a big way through their teams, these NRIs are also extending huge financial assistance to the candidates in select constituencies.
According to reports in different sections of media, the TDP is relatively ahead of the YSRCP in taking the NRI’s help in the elections.
Especially, the Kamma groups among the NRIs, obviously affiliated to the TDP, have been pumping money into the elections in a big way, as it is a do-or-die battle for party president N Chandrababu Naidu.
Reports said as many as 2,000 NRIs have arrived in Andhra from different countries to help the TDP candidates in their campaign. They take part in campaign meetings or conduct door visits. They are coordinating with the constituency in-charge or the candidate.
The pro-TDP NRIs, mostly entrepreneurs are said to be telling the voters that if the TDP comes to power, there will be flow of investments from the NRIs into Andhra Pradesh and there would be more employment opportunities.
These pro-TDP NRIs are mostly targeting the educated youth and also unemployed youth in the rural areas, promising a rosy picture if the TDP comes to power. Needless to say, these are the people who are behind the massive publicity blitzkrieg of the TDP on social media.
The TDP NRI cell has 25,000 members from across 21 countries. They have formed themselves into 66 regional bodies, spreading the message of the TDP back in their countries. Now, they are interacting with people known to them in Andhra Pradesh.
The YSRCP’s NRI wing, too, has been involved extensive social media campaign, but not as organised as the TDP. But the ruling party’s too has roped in the NRI teams to boost up the party image. They were instrumental in spreading Jagan’s Siddham campaign on the social media.
The AP Non-Resident Telugu Society (AP-NRT), an arm of the state government, has been delivering several services which it hopes had brightened the image of the ruling party.
The reports said the YSRCP has set up committees in 11 countries to build a network of NRIs. The party is hoping to use the committee to broadcast the party’s agenda and ideology abroad by interacting with the Indian diaspora.
“They are focusing on neutral voters and turn them towards the YSRCP,” reports said.