Pro-TDP media has been enthusiastically writing column after column regarding the surge of crowds for TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu’s meetings and road shows in Andhra Pradesh. This may be a morale booster for the TDP cadre for the time being. But in the long term everything is not hunky dory for Babu. The TDP is at its lowest ebb ever.
The party is decimated in Telangana and although there is some noise that since a prominent BC leader has been made as party head, there will be some flurry of activity. Obviously with Telangana elections coming close, there will be candidates vying in some strong pockets for B forms, but the party is not in a strong position to even win a single seat anywhere. It may gain some votes here and there in Khammam and Hyderabad regions but winning deposits too is a big task.
The only hope is Andhra Pradesh but practically there has been a lot of infighting these days which is not doing any good for the yellow party. There is a turf war between seniors and juniors, and political heirs versus organic leaders in most constituencies. Moreover, a large section of poor and rural voters has decided to be with Jagan for a long time.
Overall, Babu’s push to highlight Nara Lokesh, his son, is also not working out in the best way. Hence, the plan for padayatra was implemented to gain some mileage for Lokesh. Many seniors are already sulking at the son’s rise since they have an ego issue to report to a younger leader, when compared to working under father. Many rich leaders are unable to take any money out of their pockets and adopt a wait and see approach till elections.
Chandrababu has been openly lamenting about the non-cooperation by many leaders and warning them publicly about the party’s dire straits. But once Babu moves to another region, they are back to their lethargic ways. Babu is best at managing, but not leading and this is now evident in the way the party is facing doldrums everywhere. The cadre is becoming active but there is a leadership crisis and vacuum and this is no easy task to mend in a year or two and this is a systemic rot that is eating away its core strengths.
