New Delhi: The alliance between the BJP and Chandrababu Naidu is primed for big rewards in Seemandhra. NDTV's latest opinion poll shows the combo scoring 15 of the area's 25 parliamentary seats. The BJP has therefore benefited significantly by partnering with Mr Naidu. It is not popular here because it supported the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out the region of Telangana as its own state, leaving Seemandhra to form the residuary state.
Jagan Mohan Reddy's new party, the YSR Congress, is forecast to get an impressive nine seats in the first national election it's contesting. However, in February, our opinion poll showed him getting 15 seats; Mr Naidu was positioned at nine. Over the last few weeks, Mr Naidu has gained significant ground.
The Congress loses 20 seats from 2009 - it gets just one. That's punishment for pushing for the plan to cleave Andhra Pradesh. The regions of Seemandhra campaigned aggressively but eventually unsuccessfully against the new map, which also forced some top Congress leaders to quit the party. Among those who exited were Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was the Chief Minister of the state.