Hyderabad:
With the Election Commission announcing the schedule for general and Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, parties in the soon-to-be-divided state have got into poll mode hitting the campaign trail in right earnest.
Though the reorganisation of Andhra Pradesh, paving way for formation of separate Telangana state, has already been gazetted, the elections would be held for the undivided state on April 30 and May 7.
The main opposition TDP and YSR Congress, projected to be front-runners in Seemandhra, are ahead of others in kicking off electioneering.
TDP has attracted the highest number of leaders in Seemandhra, mainly from Congress which is believed to be staring at a humiliating defeat at the hustings.
Former ministers G Srinivasa Rao, T G Venkatesh, E Pratap Reddy and MLAs B Satyananda Rao, Adala Prabhakar Reddy and Sridhar Krishna Reddy are among Congress leaders who have either switched over to TDP in recent times or in the process of doing so soon.
Several other heavy-weight Congress leaders are also expected to join the TDP in the days to come.
TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu has been addressing 'Praja Garjana' (roar of people) meetings at different places Seemandhra, seeking to showcase his development agenda.
YSRC president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has been touring the state for long, earlier in support of united Andhra Pradesh, and now in the run-up to the elections.
Former minister Dharmana Prasada Rao and other Congress leaders have joined YSRC much ahead of elections.
The beleaguered ruling Congress, being projected by Opposition parties as villain of the piece for its determined push for the division, is said to be mulling constituting two separate PCCs for Telangana and new Andhra Pradesh.