Naidu faces revolt over first TDP list

Though not uncommon for a political party in times of election, the kind of scenes witnessed at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) headquarters for the past two days, followed by resignations and protests elsewhere in the state over the announcement of the first list of Assembly candidates by the party supremo Chandrababu Naidu are certainly unusual.

Political observers say the actual truth is the invisible fight that is being played out between existing leaders and second rung aspirants. "The TDP has almost 60 MLAs who have got more than four terms and another 100 MLAs who have had more than two terms. The party is facing a problem accommodating the aspirations of the second rung of leaders," said a TDP insider.

What's more, Naidu himself is at a loss to understand the happenings as he had taken the utmost care in preparing the first list, including only those candidates who were MLA's in the dissolved assembly and avoiding contentious changes, which he thought of effecting at the last minute.

With the first list containing 72 names being announced, other members of the dissolved assembly who did not find their names in the party have now become extremely suspicious of their fate. Vadde Shobhanadrishwar Rao, the sole minister among his senior Cabinet colleagues who did not find a place in the first list was viewed as a soft "target".

But out to prove otherwise, scores of his followers rushed to the party headquarters and gave vent to their anger over Naidu's decision.

Vadde's followers and rivals almost resorted to physical violence at the party headquarters. This is unheard of in a fairly disciplined party like the TDP.

A Chandrashekhar, who represented Vikarabad constituency in the dissolved assembly had gone a step further and resigned from party over not being named in the first list. One former MLA has from Peddapally in Karimnagar district, has resigned over the decision of the party leader to allocate the constituency to the BJP. Similar problems are being created for the BJP also by its cadre over seat adjustments and this has further added to the woes of the ruling TDP.

Reports of discontentment and protests have also been received from several districts even on the decision of renomination of some of the MLAs in districts. This two-way problem is expected to become bigger when the subsequent lists of candidates will be released by the party.

The unexpected turn of events has put Naidu under pressure, something that he is not been used to in the recent past. He was given to understand that by replacing the 50 to 70 sitting MLAs who were considered to have very low chances of winning the elections this time, things would be better for the party.

But now it is clear that it would be extremely difficult for Naidu to give effect to this plan, despite the careful selection of candidates after going through a painful process of surveys and opinion polls.

The pressure is already evident as Naidu has had to postpone the announcement of the second list of assembly candidates after this reaction. The happenings are a clear indication of the growing dissidence and discontentment in TDP. On the one hand the sitting MLAs are not in a mood to loose their places and on the other hand, others in the party now think that is their best chance for getting a seat.

Interestingly, most senior ministers have continued to be in the cabinet for the last nine years.