Both the Telugu states have been known to engage in a race to outdo one another in bringing foreign investments. The battle lines have been drawn yet again, between the incumbent but charismatic KT Rama Rao, and the veteran and tech-savvy, Chandrababu Naidu.

Each brings their own set of competencies to the table as they try and present their respective states as the best investment destination for US and other international businesses.

A closer look at the US visit schedule of KTR and Chandrababu Naidu in October-November of 2016, however reveals a contrasting picture. While KTR has already landed in the US and is dutifully engaging a lot of investors there, before the politics of the US Presidential ballot can cast a shadow on business engagements, Chandrababu has adamantly determined to take the chance to tap on their shoulders while they are busy glancing down the polls lines in November.

While KTR’s agenda has him dotting between business meets with US Giants , Chandrababu has his eyes on the Non-resident Telugus there, who as of the moment are split into innumerable groups on regional and caste lines. To add to this, Babu timing his visit when the US elections reaches a crescendo would not only limit his audience’s focus but would most likely make him a distraction there.

Every notable person of Indian origin would be engaged in the US elections in some capacity or the other. Both the democrat and republican parties have sizable support from the Indian origin people in the US.

And for Chandrababu Naidu to publicly expose his anti-Trump stance is shockingly un-calculative and immature from a politician of his experience and stature. Perhaps he got carried away thinking of himself as a celebrity rather than a politician. Either way he has certainly lost the ears of the Telugu Trump supporters in the US.

While KTR looks to be reaping the benefits of a rescheduled earlier trip to the US (he was originally stated to travel there in the month of November), Babu’s big ego, built on a legacy entrenched in the past, might turn out to be less advantageous to the state that has just received the stamp of being one of the most corrupt in India.