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Maha Kutami (2009)

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Not to be confused with Praja Kutami.
Maha Kutami
LeaderN. Chandrababu Naidu
K. Chandrasekhar Rao
B. V. Raghavulu
K. Naryana[1]
Founded21 January 2009[2]
DissolvedAround June 2009
IdeologySecularism
Communism
Populism[3]
AllianceThird Front
Seats in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
107 / 294
(2009)

The Maha Kutami (transl. Grand Alliance) was an alliance formed ahead of the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and general elections. It was formed on 21 January 2009 by four political parties — the Telugu Desam Party, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India. It was formed with the sole aim of dethroning the then-Indian National Congress government in the state, which was led by then-chief minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.[4]

Background

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After the 2008 Lok Sabha vote of confidence, the Left Front withdrew support to the Congress in the state as well. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and TRS then joined the Left as part of the national Third Front. In Andhra Pradesh, this alliance called themselves the Maha Kutami or "Grand Alliance" against what they called the "corrupt Congress" and "communal BJP".[5][6]

Infighting and defeat

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The alliance was marked by major infighting among its constituent parties, primarily due to frictions in seat-sharing between them.[7] There was mutual distrust and disarray among the member parties, which caused them to lose votes to the Congress and the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). Notably, seat-sharing disagreements in the alliance were finalised barely 48 hours before the deadline for nominations.[6] The alliance was described by India Today as "a loose grouping of super-sized egos and prime ministerial ambitions with no ideological common ground."[8] The anti-incumbency votes were also divided between the TDP and the PRP, which benefited the Congress and damaged the TDP. Votes from the TRS and the Communist parties failed to transfer to the TDP, which caused the alliance to lose many seats, especially in Telangana.[9] The Telangana statehood issue also proved divisive for the alliance.[10]

Campaign

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There was a noticeable change in the tone of the TDP chief Naidu during the elections. Naidu, who credited himself as the founder of Cyberabad (now HITEC City) and projected himself as a moderniser in the previous election, now raised the concerns of the poor, farmers and development of the countryside. The alliance with the TRS also forced the TDP to abandon its stance against Telangana statehood.[11]

Endorsements

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The All India Sunni Ulema Board endorsed the alliance.[12]

Manifesto

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The manifesto was released on 3 April 2009.[13]

  • Ensure economic, health and food security to the common man and reduce economic disparities in society.
  • Implementation of the Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS).
  • Integrated health scheme for poor- and middle-class families.
  • Free colour TV set to every "common man".
  • Law to control political corruption; tribunal will be set up to enquire and evaluate the disproportionate income of politicians.
  • Provision of ₹2,000 (₹5,100 in 2023) monthly cash to every family.
  • The Telangana issue will be resolved.

Constituent parties

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Electoral history

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Legislative Assembly elections

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No. Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats contested Seats won
1. Telugu Desam Party
N. Chandrababu Naidu 225 92
2. Telangana Rashtra Samithi K. Chandrasekhar Rao 45 10
3. Communist Party of India (Marxist)
B. V. Raghavulu 18 4
4. Communist Party of India
K. Narayana 14 1
Total 302[a] 107

Notes

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  1. ^ Seat agreements within the grand alliance differed as some members contested additional seats against each other.

References

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  1. ^ "Grand Alliance falling apart". The New Indian Express. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Grand Alliance takes shape". The New Indian Express. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ^ Sukumar, C. R. (22 March 2009). "Parties in AP go all out with populist promises". mint. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Congress headache: TRS joins TDP-Left alliance for Andhra polls". The Indian Express. 1 February 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Grand alliance a morale booster: CPI". The Hindu. 4 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Incompatible allies". India Today. 13 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Grand alliance in maha trouble". The Times of India. 26 March 2009. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  8. ^ "The front runners". India Today. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Andhra: YSR comes up trumps". India Today. 17 May 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  10. ^ "KCR begins lobbying for separate Telangana". India Today. 26 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Incompatible allies". India Today. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Sunni Ulema Board to go with Mahakutami". The Times of India. 14 April 2009. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  13. ^ "TDP launches manifesto". The New Indian Express. 3 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
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