Andhra Pradesh: Political shifts and electoral volatility

Abstract

This chapter analyses the factors that contributed to the limited electoral success of the Congress party in the 2009 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Three factors seem to stand out as important ones: (1 ) favourable voter evaluations of the performance of the central government as well as the State government, both run by the Congress party; (2) failure of any one opposition party or alliance of parties to present a credible alternative to the Congress party; and (3) the ability of the Congress party to retain its traditional support base. Over the past few years the state of Andhra Pradesh saw a quick evaporation of the apparent stability that marked the government and politics of the state during the years 2004-2008, partly due to agitations for and against the division of the State and the tragic death of its powerful Chief Minister that resulted in a condition of high voltage politics, radical political shifts, and increased electoral volatility.