The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) which rode to power like a typhoon in 1983 under the aegis of Founder President N T Ramarao lost its sheen and now turned out to be just another party in the state. The party Chief and former Chief Minister N Chandra Babu Naidu has been in troubled waters since some time. The main aspect worrying the party is the desertions and lack of trust in the cadre. The two major reasons for the present trouble are one being the split in Congress and the formation of the YSR Congress party; on the other hand the separate state movement in the Telangana region took toll on the party.
In spite of the huge turmoil within the party, in addition to the family feud, Mr Babu seems to be undeterred to reconstruct the image of the party. He is toiling on the streets with promises of nine-hour free power top farmers, free rice health schemes, pensions and other populist policies. The TDP wants to garner the maximum number of seats in the coming by-polls in 18 constituencies. But unfortunately for Mr Babu, sources reveal that there were no willing candidates to contest for the party and it took hard counseling by him for convincing ten candidates to contest.
Senior party leaders seem to be lured by power, money and separatist feelings into other parties and sources reveal that these are just few causes for desertion. However some still feel that the party Chief’s lack luster public image and his high handedness is also adding fuel to the desertion fire. Senior Leaders like Ummareddy Venkateswarlu, Mysoora Reddy, Vallabhanenei Vamsi and Samma Rao inclination to join other parties have sure taken the toll on the confidence levels in the party.
Among all it looks like the YSR Congress is much benefitted by the TDP exodus, with major chunk planning to join the party. This benefitted the YSRC in two ways one with elite membership and two with party getting pep over its rival even before the forthcoming by-polls. As of now the details of the TDP leaders planning to join the YSRC are Vamsi, Mohan from Vijayawada, Kodali Nani (Jr NTR’s close associate), T Srinivas Yadav from Sec’bad, Kommi Laksmaiah Naidu from Atmakoor and Gaddebabu Rao. Sources reveal that the list has not ended yet.
However the issue is boldly rubbed aside by the TDP seniors, Varla Ramaiah, who claimed that those who have deserted are mere dead-logs. Apart from the massive attrition the TDP also faces internal feud like the unwanted statements of Hari Krishna, fear of Balakrishna gulping the leadership and Jr NTR drifting away. However there is a proverb in Telugu, `Ninda Muniginavadiki Chalenti!! (a person who is well drowned will never feel the cold). This looks absolutely true, while looking at the brimming confidence on the TDP Chief’s face. (With Inputs from Internet- Aarkay)
