Amaravati and NTR have long been central pillars of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), symbolizing its founder’s legacy and its vision for Andhra Pradesh’s future.
Over the past decade, Amaravati has become the party's mantra, driving movements and campaigns against Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government. For TDP supporters, these two sentiments evoke strong emotions.
However, recent controversial remarks from Telangana Congress leaders have left the TDP uncharacteristically silent.
First, Telangana Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy stated that investors lack confidence in Amaravati due to its flood-prone nature, asserting that all investments are instead flowing to Hyderabad and Bengaluru. His comments painted Amaravati as a failed venture.
Second, MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy suggested removing NTR Ghat to construct the Telangana Assembly closer to the Secretariat for convenience.
Despite the provocative nature of these remarks, TDP leaders and ministers from Andhra Pradesh have not issued any response. This silence has raised eyebrows, especially given the TDP’s history of defending its core values and symbols.
Criticizing Revanth Reddy's Congress-led government in Telangana appears to be off-limits for TDP leaders, possibly due to fears of straining the perceived alliance between Chandrababu Naidu and Revanth Reddy.
Instead, it has been left to social media activists from the TDP to voice their outrage.
The party’s leaders, however, remain quiet, prompting speculation that this silence stems from personal interests. Many of TDP’s senior leaders own properties in Hyderabad and may wish to avoid conflicts that could disrupt their peace.
This lack of response, critics argue, reflects a shift in the party's priorities, raising questions about the state of TDP pride and its willingness to uphold its core symbols of Amaravati and NTR in the face of criticism.