Political parties rely on donations from supporters, and it is widely known that much of the "black money" in circulation also finds its way into political party coffers.
The parties in power typically receive hundreds of crores of rupees in donations, with opposition parties receiving less.
These donations often come from industrialists who expect to benefit from their support of the party in power or from those who have already benefited from their policies.
Recently, the leader of the Telugu Desam party, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, called on non-resident Indians to contribute generously to the party during a visit to Kadapa district where he participated in a Badvelu constituency meeting.
Chandrababu Naidu encouraged NRIs who have benefited from the party's rule to donate. While this request is not unusual, it does not make sense to attribute the success of NRIs solely to the rule of Telugu Desam party.
Chandrababu Naidu claims that all the Telugu software engineers who are currently living in the USA are a result of his tenure as Chief Minister, so they are indebted to him.
It is worth noting that the Telugu Desam Party has traditionally enjoyed strong support from the wealthy Kamma community settled abroad.
However, there are whispers that this support may be waning due to concerns that the party may not represent their interests once in power. Some fear that corrupt practices and embezzlement may occur, leaving them without any return on their donations.
In the past, Telugu Desam leaders have collected hundreds of crores in donations.
According to an insider from the TDP, many Kamma NRIs gave large sums of money to Nara Lokesh and Chandrababu Naidu in the hopes of receiving land in the Amaravathi region.
The party has been relying on this money, and it is possible that the funds are now running low. Chandrababu Naidu has two options: either he returns to power and secures funding that way, or he must find a way to survive for years to come, which will require more money.
Currently, Chandrababu Naidu is not receiving as much support from Kamma NRIs as before. Therefore, he has broadened his appeal to all Telugus living in the USA in the hopes of securing more funding.
An NRI commenting on this matter said, "Chandrababu Naidu is now appealing not only to NRIs but also to the people of Andhra Pradesh.
During his recent Machilipatnam tour, he encouraged people to donate Rs. 5,000 and become TDP members. He even announced that children could also contribute.
It seems he is leaving no stone unturned to secure funds for his party to survive in the long run. However, it is sad that the party needs money to pay for legal fees and other expenses."