The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh has received a severe drubbing from the people of the state in the recently concluded panchayat elections. At the time of going to press(July 18^th), almost all results were out and the verdict was a resounding rejection of the World Bank dictated policies of Chandrababu Naidu government. According to a UNI report, the TDP which had controlled all the 22 Zilla Parishads previously, could manage to retain just 9 in these elections, while the Congress(I) has captured four Zilla Parishads on its own and is in a position to capture another four if the newly formed Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) extends its support. The CPI(M) is in a position to decide the outcome in three Zilla Parishads. Even in the home district of Chandrababu Naidu-Chittoor, the TDP had to face defeat in the hands of Congress. More significantly the Congress put up an impressive show in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, considered to be the strongholds of the TDP. The BJP which contested the polls in alliance with the TDP put up a dismal show.

The rejection of the TDP-BJP alliance in these polls is significant for the fact that the power tariff hike and the brutal repression unleashed to crush the historic agitation against it, were a dominant issue in these elections. Not only the Left parties, the Congress and TRS also made this an important campaign point. In this context these elections were seen as a referendum on Chandrababu Naidu’s World Bank dictated policies. And the people have delivered their verdict in unmistakable terms.

As per the agency reports, a pall of gloom descended the TDP camp , while opposition parties celebrated their significant triumph.

Reacting to the verdict the CPI(M) state secretary B V Raghavulu said the results show the anger of the people against TDP’s policies. He said the people had taught a lesson to the TDP and the C M should stop acting according to the diktats of the World Bank.