Prior to the announcement of poll schedule, the YCP and BJP leaders camped in Delhi and met with the Election Commission officials many times. Rumours started at that time itself that they wanted election in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the same day. The wishes of YCP finally came true.

Interestingly, the election is being held in Telugu states in the first phase itself. It’s also on a single day on April 11. Is it a carefully calculated move by the YCP to deny chance to TDP sympathisers in Hyderabad to go and vote in their native places in Andhra? YCP leaders say nearly 10 lakh sympathisers were smuggled from Telangana to assist TDP victory in 2014. There’s no such chance this time as the elections are being held on the same day.

The YCP and BJP leaders are also feeling that the first phase poll will also leave less chance for Chandrababu Naidu to misuse official machinery to prepare well. On his part, Naidu has told his party cadres that the TDP is well prepared to face the poll any time. In fact, Naidu is confident that the first phase poll will only put his rivals in a disadvantage going by their lack of planning and unpreparedness.