The political environment in both Telugu states has been vitiated by large-scale poaching of Opposition MLAs by the governing party in the recent past. In Andhra, 19 MLAs of YSR Congress have switched to the TDP, while some more are expected to cross over soon. In Telangana, 12 of TDP’s 15 MLAs have shifted allegiance to the TRS camp, causing a near obliteration of Naidu’s party in India’s newest state. Twenty-five MLAs of the Congress have also joined TRS. Interestingly, the regional media coverage of these political developments was limited to only reporting the news, and not questioning the ethics of governing parties. The national television media too has not devoted much airtime to the open poaching of MLAs. Contrast this with the coverage dedicated to similar developments in states like Uttarakhand. Not just that, even the Kapu agitation has not received much play in the national media, when once compares it to the protests by the Patidars and the Jats.