Naidu asks TDP workers to strengthen party base in Telangana

With the TDP facing a crisis in Telangana following the exit of key leaders, party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today told party activists to focus on strengthening the organisation and leave the task of strategy to him.
Naidu attended the general body meeting of the TDP's Telangana unit here.
Naidu, who shifted his base to Vijayawada where the permanent capital city of Andhra Pradesh is coming up, visits Hyderabad occasionally.
His participation in the general body meeting came against the backdrop of the Telangana unit's Working President and MLA A Revanth Reddy and several other party functionaries joining the Congress a few days ago.

TDP had won 15 assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat in Telangana in the 2014 assembly and general elections, respectively, but 12 MLAs and the lone MP have shifted loyalty to the ruling TRS since then.
With Revanth Reddy quitting the party, the TDP is now left with only two MLAs in the state.

He told the workers not to think much about the next elections.
"You cannot move ahead if you think from today onwards about what happens in the next elections. BJP and TDP became NDA partners before last elections. Both fought together. Since you will have a doubt (about future), if I don't tell you anything, there is some confusion there. But that is ok. Certain things should not be said in politics," he said.

The TDP chief said he would provide direction to the activists and asked them to work for strengthening the party.
"I too have experience...What to speak and what to do when and what strategy to follow, you leave it to me. You keep faith in people. Work with the party's flag. It is my responsibility to give you direction and strategy from time to time," Naidu said.
He said he will take the views of all and that a plan of action would be prepared for strengthening the TDP.
Recalling the contribution of TDP, he said the party worked for people whether it was in power or not.

TDP founder N T Rama Rao made stellar contributions for the welfare of people and it was during the party's rule that Hyderabad made giant strides in development.
The city emerged as a "knowledge city" with a greenfield international airport and major institutions like Indian School of Business (ISB) coming up due to the initiatives of the then TDP rule, he said.
The IT sector grew in Hyderabad because of the initiatives of the TDP government, Naidu said.