Telugu Desam Party at Cross Roads?

Telugu Desam Party got a rich legacy both in Andhra Pradesh and National Politics. During the past 25 years, while changing the political landscape TDP had written the many political equations in the state. To start with N T Rama Rao dusted the mighty Congress party and brought in alternative choice in the state politics. The party provided backward classes with a political platform. Though populist schemes started by NTR ruined the state coffers, they have become relevant time and again for each election success - let it be rice, mid day meal, free electricity, subsidies or ban on cheap liquor sales. Later, Chandrababu Naidu ruled the state with iron fist for nine years became a model chief minister of his times. All along the party remained an icon for the discipline and set of principles.


Being out of power for the the past four years - it is becoming apparent that this party is at cross roads. Struggling to position - let it be it's core values, addressing emerging opportunities in the state politics, keeping close to the core vote bank amongst the backward classes, retaining principles of value based politics, or remaining the core alternative to Congress in the state. During these turbulant times, the party is getting more and more chaotic and giving volatile picture even to the hard core TDP admirers. This leaves us with the question - where TDP will stand in the state politics?

Having drifted away from the pro-poor and pro-farmer politics during the Chandrababu Naidu regime in the name of e-Governance, high tech policies - Telugu Desam policy shift towards poor and farmer communities will not be taken seriously. While Congress balanced evenly across all the segments of development (do not take what ever Eenadu or Andhra Jyothy writes), the emergence of Prajarajyam Party and it's fresh, seamingly populist or pro-poor tones will counter Telugu Desam Party policy shift.

With big somersault on Telengana just to save it's political future and then talking about opportunistic alliances ruined the party credibility.

If the above two amply demonstrate the TDP policy inconsistency, Chirajeevi is likely to take away core of it's vote bank among the backward classes. Here, TDP will also struggle to balance the political equations, between the forward community that it largely seen as representing (to counter the other forward community that Congress represents) and the backward / OBC communities that it is hugely dependent on for a election victory.

While departure of many prominent leaders from TDP put a question mark on Chandrababu Naidu leadership style, arrival of Chiranjeevi is adding further problems at the same time. The hurried preparations to launch Balakrishna and other Nandamuri family members on to the political seen is nothing but desperation. While Chinranjeevi remained a single voice for the Praja rajyam Party (until now), arrival of the screen hero's with legacy is essentially diluting the power with TDP at the top. It will always remain a big question, if some one wants to vote for the Telugu Desam Party after listening to Balakrishna or NTR Jr, when they are NOT going to lead the state, if the TDP were to emerge victorious. This is not the same case with Chiranjeevi and Prajarajyam.

During the process to create an alternative to NDA and UPA, Chandrababu Naidu essentially became a comic character. This is a steep fall from the king maker role he played some years back and even was tipped a possible Prime Minister candidate. Creation and destruction of UNPA is yet another indication how TDP is finding it hard to gain a foot hold and regain some credibility.

As it stands, even after arrival of Balakrishna it is not at all easy for Telugu Desam Patry to win and form next Government. But, it may not be too late - if Telugu Desam is ready to go back to it's founding principles and then go to people with merits of argument and justice. Also, it may be a good time that Chandrababu Naidu become a Mentor for the party and leave the lead role to Nandamuri Balakrishna - who comes with huge legacy, following among the fans to match Chiranjeevi and clean image.

Otherwise, it may to too late to go into reflection after coming elections.