The decision of Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu to hold the party’s biennial conclave Mahanadu this year at Kadapa has raised an interesting debate in the political circles.
The decision to hold Mahanadu at Kadapa was announced at the party’s politburo meeting held on Friday.
It will be conducted on May 27, 28, and 29, during which the party's national president will be elected on the second day. On the third day, a massive public meeting will take place at the local grounds.
The reason given by Naidu to hold Mahanadu at Kadapa is that it has never been held in the Rayalaseema region after the state's bifurcation.
The last Mahanadu was held in the coastal town of Rajahmundry in May 2023. So, he has chosen Rayalaseema this time.
But it appears to be a strange excuse, as Naidu could have chosen Tirupati or the TDP’s stronghold of Anantapur; or for that matter in Kuppam, his own constituency.
So, it appears Naidu deliberately chosen to hold the Mahanadu at Kadapa, only to send a message to the party leaders and cadre that he wants to conquer the fiefdom of YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
By addressing a public meeting at Kadapa, Naidu wants to show his strength in Jagan’s bastion, so that it will have a lasting impact on the TDP prospects in the district in the coming days.
The politburo announced introduction of a new concept of empowerment coordinators for every 60 families, on the lines of village and ward volunteers of the YSR Congress party.
“The appointment process for Empowerment Coordinators, Youth Coordinators, Cluster and Unit Incharges will begin on February 6,” the party announced.
Naidu suggested that by the time Mahanadu takes place, the following committees must be fully established: Booth, Cluster, Unit, Village, Mandal Committees, Division Committees in Municipal Corporations, Ward Committees in Municipalities, Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha Constituency Committees.
“The national president, ministers, and all key leaders will be members of one or more of these committees. Only committee members will be eligible for nominated positions,” a TDP leaders said.
