In 2009, then-united Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy famously dismissed the demand for a separate state of Telangana after the first phase was over. He warned the people against voting for the TDP, saying that Andhras in Hyderabad would become foreigners if AP were to be bifurcated.
However, in the run-up to the first phase of polling days earlier, YSR told the voters of Telangana that a consensus would be achieved for the bifurcation of AP. India Today quoted YSR as saying this at that time: "It is not an issue for us. We always believe there is the Telangana sentiment. We respect it. The Congress party in principle is not against the formation of Telangana," YSR said.
Something similar has been done by Narendra Modi this time. The first phase of General Elections was held recently. Out of 102 seats that went to polls, 40 belonged to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, where the Hindu-Muslim talk is a non-issue. If anything, it is a detrimental issue for the BJP there. That's why Modi didn't raise any Hindu-Muslim issue before the first phase.
But things have since changed. On Sunday, at a Rajasthan rally, Modi said that the Congress has plans to redistribute the wealth of Hindus among Muslims. Analysts say that it is a clever strategy on the part of Modi to harp on a "communal" campaign now that elections are over in TN.
