Diligology

FOr in the last four decades, political narratives in Andhra Pradesh have always based on caste equations. Even if we look at the composition of the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA), two major parties – Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jan Sena Party (JSP) – are represented by two major castes – Kammas and Caps in large -scale Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, the Congress and YSR Congress Party are dominated by the Reddy community.

This was not always the case. Prior to the 1980s, the main players in Andhra Pradesh were Congress and Left parties, and their statements were largely based on social issues. Although there were inherent streams of caste-based politics, these were often not surfaces. The story of caste-based politics began in 1982 with NT Ram Rao’s entry into politics. TDP founder Rao advocated Telugu Pride, yet his party was often called ‘Kamma Party’.

Ever since the overall state of Andhra Pradesh was divided in 2014, and Telangana was formed, politics has changed in Andhra Pradesh’s residual state and has accepted religious overtones. Although it was noticeable during the previous YSRCP government headed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, it became more clear during the current NDA rule, which came to power in 2024. Political narratives are based on many issues roaming around the places of worship on a large scale and a large extent has been stirred up in the state.

The most prominent of these is a dispute around Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). This broke up in September 2024 when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that Laddu Prasadam was being made from animal fat with sociable ghee. He claimed that the contract for supply of sub-standard ghee was first given to a firm by the YSRCP government.

This charge led to political and religious resentment across the country. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who is the JSP chief, claimed that connecting Milan Ghee was a concrete step to attack the Sanatan Dharma. NDA parties and colleagues left no stone unturned to attack Mr. Jagan Reddy and his party. They went to the extent to say that the practice of hiring employees of other religions led the ‘Bali’ of TTD. A special investigation team was formed to investigate the case and the issue finally reached the Supreme Court.

When the dispute died after a few months, Mr. Reddy replaced the tables on the NDA after a stampede at the Waikanta Ekadasi Festival at TTD temple in Tirupati. The incident on 8 January claimed the lives of six people. Mr. Jagan Reddy and his party accused him of negligence, and blamed the NDA.

Could die even before this incident, former president of TTD, former MLA Bhuman

Karunkar Reddy alleged that more than 170 cows died in Devasthanams Goshla (cow shed) in a month and said that money was being misused by the current TTD boards and officials for Goshla. This brought stressful moments in the temple city. Both YSRCP and NDA closed the horns on the issue. All political parties of the state, including left parties, turned to connecting the discourse. The issue reached a fever pitch and dominated the political story in the state.

However, this is not only a case with the current NDA rule, although it now seems more prominent. In December 2020, the disintegration of Lord Ram’s statue at the 12th century Ramatham Yampal in Vijianagaram district was quite political traction. YSRCP was then in power. All opposition parties including TDP, JSP and BJP picked up their pitch and made it an election issue in the 2024 general elections. In the same year, a century -old wooden chariot of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple located in Sakhitipalli Mandal of East Godavari district was set on fire by miscreants. Opposition parties alleged that people of other religions had set the chariot on fire. In the case, the suspect, who belongs to a minority community, was killed in a road accident.

Senior politicians and political analysts say it seems to be a new trend in the state. With religious issues of taking center phase, the main issues are taking a backseat.

sumit.b@thehindu.co.in