'Elections are fought to win.' 'In our party, the leadership takes the final decision, and our leaders are very clear about it.'

Call it the art of staying rooted yet bending with prevailing political winds. With Telangana going to the polls in December, and assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra and Odisha scheduled next year, what factors have influenced parties' recent moves?

'It is the most prone month for the development of cyclones in the pre-monsoon period.'

Those who know Naveen Patnaik well say his final decision will depend on who has the edge after the election.