When netas give street food a political tadka

Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may well be the most well-known ‘chaiwala’ of the nation, but there are other lesser-known chaiwalas in the two Telugu states trying to strike a chord with the electorate. They are those who are stirring a gastronomic delight in the cauldron of ‘khichdi politics’.

As the election date draws closer, candidates are trying every trick in their political bag — from lavish spending to vote-buying and to literally falling at voters’ feet — to ensure poll success. Some brewed cups of India’s favourite ‘adrak chai’, others did deep-fried crunchy ‘pakoda politics’, while some others tried their hand at crispy masala dosa or spicy ‘mirchi bhajji politics.

Dosa: Batter of success?

With assets worth Rs 75 crore, Vasundhara Devi probably must have never tried her hand at making a dosa or iron clothes in her life. The wife of actor and sitting TDP MLA, Nandamuri Balakrishna, while campaigning for her husband in Hindupur constituency was seen ironing clothes at a laundry shop in the constituency, and even making dosas at a street corner. Devi then requested everyone to vote for her husband Balakrishna. The husband-wife duo even headed to a local Anjaneya Swamy temple to seek the blessings of Lord Hanuman for a possible victory in the elections. Balakrishna is worth over Rs 100 crore, both movable and immovable assets put together.

The garland weaver

Tirupati is the abode of Lord Venkateswara, known as alankarapriya — the one who loves jewellery and garlands. Fragrant flowers play a major role in daily rituals and decoration of Lord Venkateswara, an eye-feast for lakhs of his ‘bhakts’. Devotees’ love for the Lord is mainly expressed in offering garlands, a major source of livelihood for locals, many of whom are voters. If it’s ‘the art of making garlands’, one must learn from former MP and senior Congress leader, Chinta Mohan, who is trying his luck from the Tirupati Lok Sabha seat. During his campaign, the seasoned politician was seen with vendors, intricately weaving pearly-white jasmine buds with tulsi leaves to string a mala. Will the ‘flower power’ bloom for this six-time MP and former Union minister is something that remains to be seen, but for now he will be facing formidable rivals like Panabaka Lakshmi (TDP) and Balli Durgaprasada Rao (YSRCP).

Andhra Chaiwala

Modi’s ‘chaiwala’ image spawned national ‘charchas’, almost becoming a symbolism of national politics. Chai with an extra adrak is often brewed with hot politics at tea stalls across India, and Pyakaraopeta in Visakhapatnam perhaps is no exception. Probably inspired by Modi’s tea-boy background, Bangaraiah, a doctor with the King George Hospital, is frequenting tea stalls not just to seek votes but to make a hot cuppa over politics. The doctor, contesting on TDP ticket in Pyakaraopeta MLA constituency, saw tea stall as the best beginning to become part of that symbolism. Remains to be seen if he can doctor a victory in the elections over chai politics.

Puri politics

Main toh raste se ja raha tha, main toh bhel puri kha raha tha, is how Govinda expressed his love for Karisma Kapoor and bhel puri in Coolie No. 1. In Anakapalle, people don’t relish bhel puri as much as pesarattu and puri with potato curry. Jana Sena MLA candidate for Anakapalle constituency, Paruchuri Bhaskar Rao, thought that if Balakrishna’s wife can make dosas, he can fry a crispy puri over politics. On campaign trail, Bhaskar Rao, a cousin of Ganta Srinivasa Rao, the HRD minister of Andhra Pradesh, tweaked the Coolie No 1 song to Main toh raste se ja raha tha, main toh puri bana raha tha.

Barber politics

In the 2018 Assembly elections, Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) set a new benchmark in political canvassing. He showed off his impressive shaving skills at a barber’s shop in his Jangaon constituency, well in a traditional wet shave style by applying rich lather on the beard of a customer. Muthireddy had clean shave when he earned over 91,000 votes — almost 30,000 more than his nearest rival Ponnala Lakshmaiah of Congress — in the Assembly elections.