The ‘exodus’ threat seems to be looming large on the Telugu Desam party. It has suffered worst in the recent past, and all those who left the party blame the leadership failure to rejuvenate the party’s rank and file. The party’s strength in Kurnool district, once considered as the stronghold of the TDP, is alarmingly diminishing with leader after leader quitting it and joining the bandwagon of the newly formed YSR Congress Party of the Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
The party cadre in the district seems to be orphaned since all its senior leaders shifted their loyalties one after the other. Many constituencies in the district have no leaders left to run the show on behalf of the party in the upcoming 2014 elections. Indeed, the party is left with no leaders but only cadre in the district.
Meanwhile, party state general secretary Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy resigned in protest against party chief N Chandrababu’s letter to the prime minister Manmohan Singh on creation of separate Telangana.
Subsequently, the TDP district body appears to have solely lost its sheen. It now only has the support from KE Krishnamurthy’s family. Budda Venagal Reddy, Challa Ramakrishna Reddy, SV Subbareddy, Bhuma Nagireddy, Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy quitting the party one after the other came as a great blow to the party.
Budda’s family members were elected thrice from Atmakur Assembly constituency. However, they joined YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s camp two years ago. Challa Ramakrishna Reddy created a record for being elected from Panyam constituency in 1983 elections. Bu then, he joined the Congress party over a rift with the party leaders and is now an active leader in the ruling party.
SV Subbareddy, one of the senior most-leaders, was elected four times as TDP MLA (once in Allagadda, thrice in Pattikonda) in the district.
Bhuma Nagireddy and family played a major role in the district politics, Nandyal Parliamentary constituency being their stronghold.
Byreddy Seshasaina Reddy, father of Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy, was a dynamic leader in the TDP, during its initial days and was elected as MLA thrice.
All those who chose to desert the party put the onus on the party leadership.
Many more are planning to leave as they fear their political fortunes look bleak with the latest poll surveys. They are apparently waiting for Naidu to take a decision either way on T-statehood.