Though TDP chief and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is one of the senior most political leaders in the country, with four and half decades of active public life and more than one of the longest surviving Chief Ministers, learning lessons from setbacks makes him to be relevant always.
All TDP cadre are jubilant with YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s disastrous defeat in the polls, confining to 11 assembly seats. But, Chandrababu seems to be making cautious moves to ensure such TDP should not face such a miserable position. As a result, more than YCP leaders, he seems to be trying to learn lessons from Jagan’s defeat.
After winning a mammoth victory in 2019 elections with 151 seats, one of the main reasons for Japan’s defeat was said to be he has maintained distance not only to people, but also to his cabinet colleagues and MLAs. He has practically deserted his party cadre, mostly depending upon village volunteers.
This makes Chandrababu to move cautiously by remaining accessible to all. For the first time he was seen getting down from his car to talk with people who were struggling hard to come close to him. He also has been repeatedly asking people not to create more barricades around him.
Already, he had admitted that one of the reasons for his defeat in 2019 was keeping away from the party cadre, as he was preoccupied with the administration. So, two days after officially taking charge as Chief Minister, he went to TDP headquarter and assured them he will suitably reward party activists in nominated posts, those struggling hard and victimized during YCP’s anarchistic regime.
Chandrababu has already made it clear that there should not be any barriers between him and the people of AP. During his first visit to TDP headquarters as Chief Minister, he became serious with the police. He questioned the police about the barricades in the party office.
Chandrababu expressed his desire that the police should change their methods. He asked them not to put up barricades when he is meeting activists. Chandrababu said that a unique system will be brought for receiving public complaints.
He said that he is planning to listen to people’s problems directly. In the past, during the YCP government, Jagan was not allowed to meet the actual people, ministers, MLAs and MPs. People who don’t like the culture of curtains.. reject Jagan.
During Jagan’s visits, police used to blockade people everywhere with severe traffic restrictions. Used to kept curtains on two sides of the roads, so that no one could see him. The polls proved that people didn’t tolerate such a treatment.