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TDP introspects on electoral setbacks

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

The ruling Telugu Desam Party has identified factors such as intra-party squabbles and the lack of co-ordination among the local leaders for its failure to win as many as 90 assembly seats in the general elections held three months ago.

The findings, the result of an in-house analysis by teams of observers, were highlighted by Chief Minister and TDP president Nara Chandrababu Naidu at the two-day training programme for the party's defeated candidates in the recent assembly and Lok Sabha polls. The programme ended with a valedictory address by Naidu on Friday.

The TDP chief said that the lack of co-ordination coupled with ego clashes and misgivings among the leaders at various levels had seriously affected the party's chances in 90 assembly constituencies. He revealed that the party lost 81 out of 90 seats due to "jealousy, disunity and differences among the local leaders". The constituency-level committees set up to aid the candidates were of little help in as many as 62 constituencies. Most of the party candidates also lacked public relations skills to woo the voters, the findings emphasised.

Among other things, the findings also indicated that the lack of proper co-ordination between the TDP and its poll ally the Bharatiya Janata Party proved dear for the ruling party in as many as 35 assembly constituencies. All the same, the TDP lost 53 other seats despite good co-ordination between the two parties.

Several shortcomings of the party were brought out by the analysis. In 41 assembly constituencies, the selection of candidates was "improper," while in 48 constituencies it was "proper." Money power was a key factor in 52 constituencies while it had little significance in 27 constituencies.

Shortcomings or irregularities in the implementation of welfare and development programmes also contributed to the party's bad showing in many of the 90-odd constituencies. Faulty implementation of development works led to the party's debacle in 39 constituencies while it had no impact in 33 constituencies. Similarly, irregularities in welfare programmes led to the party's defeat in 32 constituencies while this factor did not play a role in 40 constituencies.

The party, the findings concluded, could not utilise the services of self-help groups in 47 constituencies. However, self-help groups came in handy for the party in 29 constituencies. The findings indicated that the party's image was "very good" in 14 constituencies, "good" in 67 constituencies and ''not good'' in only five constituencies.

The Congress promise of free power supply for the farm sector contributed to the TDP's defeat in 32 constituencies, besides reducing the TDP nominees' margins in another 10 constituencies. It, however, failed to make a difference in 38 constituencies.

Naidu said that most of the 90 candidates of the party lost by narrow margins. The party lost six assembly seats with a margin of less than 1,000 votes, 23 seats with less than 5,000 votes, 35 seats with less than 10,000 votes and the remaining 26 seats with margins of over 10,000 votes.

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