TDP grapples with tattered alliance

The 27th foundation day of the Telugu Desam party was celebrated on Sunday even as the party continued to be in a state of disarray over seat-sharing with alliance partners and selection of candidates.
 
Party president Chandrababu Naidu, who is busy sorting out the differences with  Grand Alliance partners Telengana Rahstriya Samiti, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India – Marxist, took time off to hoist the flag of the party. He also visited the NTR Ghat on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake to pay tribute to party founder Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao.
 
"I was not able to give tickets to my dear party leaders because of the compulsions of the alliance. We had to leave many of our seats to other parties to ensure the defeat of the corrupt Congress party," he said.
 
Expressing confidence that the TDP was going to come back to power with a huge majority, Naidu told party workers that he will take care of their interests. "I am making this promise to you in front of NTR's statue," he declared.
 
"The sacrifices that the party workers have made will not go in vain. My life is not enough to repay this debt of yours," he said.
 
On this day in 1982, popular Telugu film star N T Rama Rao had launched the Telugu Desam, on the plank of Telugu self respect.
 
Naidu promised that the party will follow the pro-poor policies initiated by NTR. He tried to enthuse party workers at a time when over a dozen senior party leaders have left the TDP to join either Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party or the Congress.

He dismissed PRP as a 'bubble of water' which will vanish soon. The party has also been rocked by several incidents of angry party workers attacking and vandalising the party offices at different places. Party workers from many constituencies have also staged protests and shouted slogans outside Chandrababu Naidu's residence.
 
Naidu is exasperated that despite his efforts, he has not been able to smooth out the differences over seat sharing with the TRS and the CPI-M.