Mumbai: India Today, an English news channel, is all set to tantalise the taste buds of viewers with a sizzling political showdown accompanied by the spicy culinary delights of Andhra Pradesh through its election special, "Elections on My Plate”.
The channel's consulting editor, Rajdeep Sardesai, is currently traversing through the southern state with a unique concept, blending analysis, interviews, and on-ground reports while indulging in the local gastronomy for the audience.
This Friday, 3 May, Rajdeep is geared up to present exclusive interviews with two political powerhouses of the state – N Chandrababu Naidu, the chief of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and the charismatic Telugu film star Pawan Kalyan, who leads the regional outfit Jan Sena Party (JSP).
Andhra Pradesh commands special attention as it gears up to cast its vote for the new Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly simultaneously on 13 May, marking the fourth phase of the seven-phased General Elections 2024.
Adding intrigue to the Andhra elections is the alliance between Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, who joined forces to challenge the incumbent chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. They have now aligned with India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party, which dominated the Andhra polls in 2019, winning 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats and 151 out of 175 seats in the state assembly, has long been perceived as an implicit ally of the national BJP.
Rajdeep Sardesai engaged in candid discussions with Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada and Pawan Kalyan in Jaggampeta, posing pointed questions in his signature style to elucidate why Andhra voters should support their alliance this time around.
Previously, Rajdeep interviewed Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy in Visakhapatnam, probing into allegations of corruption against his administration and his authoritative leadership style.
Keep tuned to India Today to unravel the complexities of Andhra Pradesh politics, capturing the essence of both the visible and underlying dynamics in the state through Rajdeep Sardesai's insightful interviews with key players shaping the political landscape of Andhra Pradesh.