Vijayawada: Chief minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu is seeking votes not as a leader but as the eldest son of people. “I am the eldest son of your family and have been fulfilling my responsibilities as one,” said Naidu.The CM, who has earlier harped on development, is now focusing on welfare attempting to project himself as the eldest son whose responsibility is to take care of all others in the family.Public meeting after meeting, Naidu emphasises that he is the ‘Pedda Koduku’ (eldest son) and his prime objective is to stand by the family in times of need. TDP has prepared video advertisements extolling Naidu as the eldest son, who does not shirk his responsibility and is ever ready to take care of all the needs of the family. The idea is to touch the sentimental chords, evoke emotions and create a familial bond to win over the electorate in assembly and Lok Sabha polls. The focus is to present Naidu as a family man and a member of every Telugu family living in the state.With stakes quite high this time, Naidu does not want to lose any opportunity to come closer to voters. Even while highlighting the alleged threat from Telangana chief minister and TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao to people in AP, Naidu has been devoting a considerable part of his speeches to explain how he has always stood by people as their “eldest son and brother”.Naidu has been telling women that he is their elder brother and thus helping them with financial assistance in performing marriages (Chandranna Pelli Kanuka and Shadi Mubarak schemes) and meeting family incidentals (Pasupu Kumkuma scheme). To the youth he calls “thammudu” (younger brothers) repeatedly, explaining the “threat” that looms large over their future if “criminals” and “history-sheeters” were voted to power. He also tells them about the unemployment allowance launched by the TDP government.He then addresses the elderly introducing him as their eldest son and explaining about old-age pension, which he increased from Rs 200 a month in 2014 to Rs 2,000.A close observation of Naidu’s election campaign revealed that he has been addressing every section of society – from farmers to daily workers and from youth to senior citizens. Unlike in the past when he monotonously went on addressing election meetings, Naidu is involving the audience this time. He is also seeking a response to his queries on alleged attempts of Telangana dominance over Andhra people and “threat” to the pride and self-respect of Andhra.Naidu is comparing the election with a people’s war. “Alexander had 10 lakhs, soldiers. Everyone in his army was called Alexander. That's why Alexander won the world. TDP has 65 lakh cadre. TDP cadres are also making the impossible into possible. Opponents of TDP in the last five years have been reduced while supporters of TDP are increasing day by day,” he told TDP leaders on Sunday.

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