Just hours before exit polls announced their results and TDP forming the next government in Andhra Pradesh was almost settled, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu made a strategic move to revive the party in Telangana state. Though several of its leaders had migrated to other parties, the party strongly believes that the strength of the party cadre is still intact in the state.
Party cadre’s enthusiasm was exposed during the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu as they held more intensified protest marches in Hyderabad than any other city in Andhra Pradesh. The then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was so terrified and practically imposed a ban on such protests.
Even during elections in Andhra Pradesh, a large number of TDP supporters from Hyderabad and other places of Telangana have taken active part in the campaign and lakhs of people went to their native places to vote for the party, though on the same day polling took place in Telangana too.
Moreover, in the absence of TDP taking part in electoral politics in Telangana, most of its supporters are bending towards BRS rather than Congress. The very fact that BRS had won almost all assembly seats in and around reflects their sympathies towards the regional party.
Due to these developments, Chandrababu said to be realised on the need to revive the party in Telangana too, which would be supportive to the party activities in Andhra Pradesh. Two days ago, he had called key leaders of the party from Telangana to his residence in Hyderabad and discussed the prevailing political scenario.
In this meeting, several leaders are said to be impressed upon Naidu on the urgent need to revive the party activities in the state. The state party president post has been vacant for more than six months.
Although there are activists across the state, the party’s top leadership feels that there is a dearth of leaders to lead them forward. In this context, Chandrababu’s meeting with Telangana TDP ranks has become important.
On this occasion, Chandrababu seems to have made some important admissions. He admitted that for the last five years he could not focus on party activities in this state, as was forced to focus more on fighting against evil person in AP.
“That’s why we couldn’t contest the last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. However… you all are sticking to the party. Let’s form a state committee soon. The party should be restructured from the grassroots level”, he added.
He expressed hope that the party will gain its prominence in Telangana soon by encouraging BCs and the youth. He said that TDP which was born in Telangana should be revived here.
Party leaders Bakkani Narsimhulu, Arvind Kumar Goud, Nannuri Narsireddy, Thirunagari Jyotsna, Kambhampati Rammohan Rao and others participated in this meeting.