The electoral battle would be essentially between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Congress. The Third Front is yet to take off and the BJP continues to be confined to a few isolated pockets in Telengana.

The Congress seems to be in a resurgent mood ... All the groups and faction leader have converged to display unity. The coming together ... leaders has created great enthusiasm among the rank and file and galvanised the party. The Congress hopes to encash the electorate's disenchantment with the Naidu Government's policies such as the cut in rice and power subsidies, overall increase in prices, power cuts and the closure of a dozen-odd public sector undertakings.

In the 11th Lok Sabha, the Congress had 22 seats and the Telugu Desam 17. The TDP president, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, is giving final touches to his campaign strategy. The main problem with the ruling party is the incumbency factor and the discontent within the party ... Left parties of late have started criticising his government for its anti-people policies ...

There are apprehensions of large-scale violence during the elections. While the outlawed Naxalite outfit People's War Group has threatened to disturb polls in Telengana, in Rayalaseema the escalation of factional fighting is expected.

(Source: The Hindustan Times, 8 December, 1997)