Poor response to Desam move
Party is facing leadership crisis in many parts as prominent leaders switch loyalties.
Anantapur: ‘Intintiki Telugu Desam’ has been receiving poor response in most parts of the district as its own leaders and MLAs are not seriously involved in the prestigious programme organised by the party in the state.
Many constituencies are bereft of leadership after the leaders quit the party to join other parties. Although a few MLAs have a strong base in their Assembly segments, they are not too keen on making a success of the ‘Intintiki Telugu Desam’ programme.
The situation is worse in parts of Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool districts. The party is facing a lack of leadership at Mantralayam in Kurnool district where former sitting MLA Bala Nagi Reddy has shifted loyalties to YSR Congress.
Bala Nagi Reddy was among the MLAs disqualified for shifted loyalties to YSR Congress. Telugu Desam has no worthwhile leader in the Tadipatri Assembly constituency in Anantapur district after party in-charge Peram Nagi Reddy jumped on to the YSR Congress wagon last month shocking the party high command by lobbying with J.C. Diwakar Reddy and his followers.
P. Nagi Reddy, has been assured of a ticket from YSR Congress from Tadipatri in the forthcoming elections. As a result, party cadre in Tadipatri are confused about conducting ‘Initintiki Telugu Desam’ programme and are awaiting a new leader.
A similar situation exists in the Singanamala segment too, following a change of leadership bringing the programme to a grinding halt. Though, MLC Shamanthakamani was leading the party, speculations over primary education minister Sake Sailajanath quitting the party added to the confusion to the cadre.
A senior TD leader observed that only those leaders who have been assured of tickets for the forthcoming polls are concentrating on party programmes. “The rest are only waiting to see the party position over the issue of state division.”
Few MLAs like Paritala Sunitha, Kandikunta Prasad and Palle Raghunath Reddy in Anantapur district have formally launched the programme but only in a few villages. In Kurnool, party politburo member K.E. Krishna Murthy launched ‘Intintiki Desam’ in the city.
“Why should we face the brunt because leaders from other parties are lobbying with high command?” asked a leader from Kurnool. Meanwhile, in Kadapa district, few leaders launched house to house campaign and taking the programmes of party president N. Chandrababu Naidu. They says the Telugu Desam is the only alternative to the Congress in the state.