Following a humiliating show by the TDP in the recently concluded panchayat elections in Kuppam assembly constituency in Chittoor district, party president and former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu entered the field directly in a bid to undo the damage.
Apparently, Naidu has realised that the poor performance of the TDP in Kuppam, his own constituency, has demoralised the party cadre and if the damage control is not done now, it will pose a threat to his own political career in the next elections.
The TDP won only 14 out of 89 gram panchayats in Kuppam, with ruling YSR Congress party recording a thumping victory by winning 74 gram panchayats. It was a big blow to the morale of the cadre and the ego of Naidu.
In an attempt to instil confidence into the cadre, Naidu began a whirlwind tour of Kuppam on Thursday and it will continue for two more days. He addressed a series of meetings and interactions with the party cadres.
All through his tour, Naidu did not show any kind of nervousness or embarrassment, but he tried to project himself as a confidant man.
He gave a call to the Kuppam people to fight back the threats and attacks by the YSRC leaders and continue their fearless struggle in order to save democracy and prevent slavery.
Naidu asserted that the Jagan Reddy regime would not survive for long and the TDP was sure to regain power whenever the elections would be held.
In fact, the TDP Victory March would begin from Kuppam itself, thus defeating the ruling party leaders' ulterior plans, he said.