HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam will be celebrating its 31st foundation day on Thursday at a time when it is facing the biggest-ever challenges in its history.
Founded by NT Rama Rao on March 29, 1982, the TDP was swept to power in a record time of nine months.
During its 30 years of existence the TDP was in power for 17 years and initiated several novel schemes and welfare programmes.
Now, smarting under two successive defeats in general election, the party is struggling hard to find its feet, let alone regain its glory.
It has been tasting humiliating defeats in successive bypolls held since 2010 and finds itself in a hopeless condition to contest the next round of bypolls for 18 Assembly seats.
Though its chief N Chandrababu Naidu did not admit it, the party is facing stiff challenge from the YSR Congress Party in Andhra and Rayalaseema, and from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Telangana.
Naidu’s two-eyed trick did not cut much ice with the people of Telangana.
Though he managed to move freely in the region and attracted large crowds, the public response did not reflect at the ballot box.
In Andhra the TDP is facing a serious threat from YSRCP which is spreading and deepening its roots.
Asked about how he would tackle the crisis, Naidu remarked: “There is no crisis in TDP.
It is the people of the state who are facing crisis due to corrupt and inefficient governance by the Congress.”