TDP is the main opposition in Andhra Pradesh. Its chief responsibility is to fight the government when it goes off track. But unfortunately, there are few in the party who make their voice heard in the party. Party forgot grass root programmes long back. Party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier planned to take the Amaravati movement to every nook and corner of the state. The outbreak of coronavirus has put a temporary halt to his effort.
The YSRCP government is making the lives of active party leaders miserable in every possible way, including booking them on frivolous charges and sending them to jails. The party leadership must work on taking this vengeful attitude of the Government into the people. Party leaders and activities are apprehensive over organizing field events.
It is time for the party top brass to realize that the party must be active on the ground to give a tough fight to the YSRCP.
Left in the lurch
Many leaders who enjoyed posts when the party was in power are now keeping away from the party programmes. Every district has at least 20 leaders who enjoyed MLC, Rajya Sabha or nominated posts at one or another time. But most of them have now disappeared from public view. Only a few leaders are seen actively raising the voice of the party on ground level. They too are expressing dismay at their lonely battles and asking why only they should fight and pay for it in the form of harassment by the state government while many other leaders who enjoyed posts are sitting pretty.
The real test for a political party or its leader comes when they are out of power. Only four or five leaders are active in the media on various issues. A few TDP leaders are limiting their activity to a media conference or a release of press notes as a ritual. It is difficult to find a leader who is actively pursuing issues in a constructive manner and taking it to a logical end. This apathy and lack of seriousness on the part of TDP leaders is seen as a major factor for the lukewarm response for Amaravati agitation. The party leaders have failed to portray it as a problem of not only residents of 29 villages but that of 5 crore people of the state.
Casual approach
The approach of many TDP leaders on Amaravati issue is anything but serious. Except a few leaders from Krishna and Guntur districts, all TDP leaders almost turned their backs to the cause. Farmers are complaining that TDP leaders are just spending some time in the tent and leaving. Is it enough for the movement to pick up? Can’t they ignite an agitation against capital shifting in their own constituencies? These questions are being raised by common people.
Even though Naidu is promptly reacting to every issue in the state, there is not much ground activity, especially after outbreak of COVID. As a responsible opposition, TDP leaders must come out and actively fight in the constituency and the state, or there may be the threat of other parties occupying the space.
