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The three-day biennial convention of the ruling Telugu Desam Party opens in the port city of Visakhapatnam on Sunday, even as Chief Minister and party chief N Chandrababu Naidu made it clear that the party was totally opposed to the demand for a separate Telangana state.
The issue of Telangana will figure at the Mahanadu as part of a broader discussion on "backward area development in Andhra Pradesh".
The Mahanadu is expected to come up with an action plan for the accelerated development of all backward areas in the state, including Telangana.
Thirtyseven issues/subjects are listed for discussion at the Mahanadu, including Centre-state relations, the impact of assembly elections in five states, the TDP's relations with Bharatiya Janata Party, recent political developments at the Centre and in the state, devolution of central funds, the impact of World Trade Organisation on agriculture and industry. The state government's policies and programmes will also come up for debate by the 5,000-odd delegates, including ministers, parliamentarians, legislators, elected representatives of local bodies and party functionaries.
The Mahanadu will witness the formality of re-election of Naidu as party chief for another two-year term. Naidu, who was elected TDP chief after he broke away from his father-in-law N T Rama Rao and upstaged him in a family coup in 1996, has been "unanimously" re-elected at Mahanadus (conventions) held in successive years. This time, too, he will be the sole candidate for the party chief's post.
On the eve of the Mahanadu, Naidu reiterated his party's commitment to a 'Samaikya' (integrated) Andhra Pradesh to ensure all-round development of all backward areas. He expressed resentment over attempts by some political parties and leaders to rake up regional sentiments for political gains.
He admitted that certain areas remained backward due to historical and geographical reasons, but this has not happened overnight. The Congress, which ruled the state for 32 years, was responsible for this backwardness, he said. However, he claimed that his government has taken the lead to tackle regional disparities and do justice to backward areas over the last six years.
The chief minister pooh-poohed the demand for smaller states as only a strong state can get its due share of benefits from a strong Centre. Moreover, smaller states would suffer from political instability (as in north-eastern states). Bigger states, with a sizeable strength of parliamentarians, would matter in lobbying with the Centre for a better deal. Andhra Pradesh, with 42 Lok Sabha members and 18 Rajya Sabha members, has better clout than all the smaller states put together.
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