Did TD give pain to people: Naidu

The introspection has started in the Telugu Desam over the worst defeat in the recent Assembly elections. Clearly shocked by the verdict, TD supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu reportedly asked some leaders during a review: “Did the TD give so much pain to the people.”

Mr Naidu asked the leaders, who had gathered at his residence on the Karakatta in Undavalli: “Did the TD really make such huge mistakes?”

He directed TD leaders to conduct a review, analyse and retrospect about the results. Mr Naidu’s house, always buzzing with leaders and officials, wore a deserted look. A few leaders like Mr Galla Jayadev, Mr Kesineni Nani, Mr Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and others met Mr Naidu and tried to analyse the defeat.

They expressed sadness over the negative response from the voters despite the implementation of 107 welfare schemes. "The public did not recognise the services of Naidu who worked 18 hours per day and developed state in all aspects," one of them said.

They said that they expected Mr Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena to split the anti-incumbency vote but it helped the YSRC by dividing the TD electorate. They recalled that Mr K Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party had split Opposition votes and helped the Congress to win the 2009 election.

They said that the people believed the Opposition campaign that "PK was a friend of Naidu and JS is "B" team of TD" and this changed the mindset of voters including BCs who were traditional supporters of TD in North Andhra and Godavari districts.

The leaders said the BJP had created hurdles in the party getting donations and the lack of money had troubled the party in 30-40 seats. They said that the party's Janma Bhoomi committees harassed the public for money, which created a negative impact and the party did not respond quickly.

TD leaders felt the party had not reacted quickly when reports said Janma Bhoomi groups fleeced people for benefits