ANANTAPUR: With the YSRC having targeted the home turf of TD supremo and several other hitherto-strong TD segments, former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu is on a mission to re-energise the party cadres. However, dissidence among the party leaders is a serious worry for the party high command.
As part of efforts to rev up the spirits of partymen and make a serious bid to retake power, Naidu has announced TD candidates for the Rayalaseema region much in advance of the 2024 general polls.
The TD president is currently on a whirlwind tour of Rayalaseema region as part of Badude Baduru programme aimed at highlighting the “failures” of the YSRC government. He was in a josh after the programme was a grand success in YSR district, the home turf of chief minister Jagan.
A huge number of party cadres took part in the TD programme and Naidu received a grand welcome via a TD motor cycle rally from Kadapa airport. In fact, even during the heavy rains, the party leadership in the districts he went into in the last three days made the party programme successful.
Naidu reportedly named several leaders as the TD candidates in the next polls and directed them to work hard to strengthen the party.
However, internal bickering among the leaders at various levels has come as a set-back to the high command’s efforts to activate the rank and file.
For instance, the differences between Tadipathri municipal chairman Prabhakar Reddy and former minister Raghunath Reddy of Puttaparthi assembly segment raised many an eyebrow. Prabhakar Reddy who had announced plans to visit all assembly segments in both Anantpaur and Satya Sai was arrested when he headed for Puttaparthi. The arrest was in connection with some irregularities related to a venture a few days ago.
Raghunath opposed the entry of Prabhakar into his segment while Prabhakar lashed out at the former.
Sources said Prabhakar was encouraging his close aide Suresh Reddy in Puttaparthi against Raghunath Reddy.
Similarly, Anantapur urban incharge Prabhakar Chowdary has aired his differences with the Prabhakar Reddy family over its involvement in Anantapur urban politics.
The TD was split into groups in Madakasira segment where former MLC Gundumala Thippeswamy was opposing former MLA M Eeranna‘s candidature and encouraging other leaders. While the TD high command was serious, the party remained in a worse condition in many segments due to internal differences.
The present in-charges who tasted defeat in the last elections were facing competition from dissident groups as new faces were being projected against seniors.
