Is the TDP leadership scoring a self goal in Visakhapatnam East assembly constituency? Is it falling into the YSRCP trap? Is it playing into the hands of the YSRCP, which is using the BC card to confuse the TDP? Well! The political moves of the TDP bosses make it amply clear that the TDP is well on course to fall for the YSRCP bait.

Since its formation in 2009, Vizag East assembly constituency has been a TDP citadel. In 2009, liquor baron-turned-TDP leader Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu braved Congress and Chiru’s Praja Rajyam Party to win by over 3000 votes. In 2014 too, he had won by a huge margin from the same constituency. In fact, his victory margin was the second highest in the state.

Even in 2019, he braved the Jagan tsunami and managed to win by a huge margin of 25000 votes. This showed his personal connect and popularity among the Vizag East voters. Thus, he earned the sobriquet of ‘Hattrick Hero.’ But, after that the TDP overall performance began to take a beating and the YSRCP had won the local body and GVMC elections.

Now, the YSRCP has begun playing the BC card and has begun saying that Velagapuri Ramakrishna Babu is an outsider for Vizag and that he comes from the Upper Castes. It gave MLC post to Vamsikrishna, a BC and the Vizag mayor too is a BC. The TDP too appears to have fallen into the BC trap and is said to be thinking of projecting a BC. Thus, it is actually falling into the YSRCP trap. Already, there is a talk within the TDP that Velagapudi could be denied the ticket. If that happens, the TDP would only play into the hands of the YSRCP, say analysts. Is someone in TDP listening?