Chandrababu Naidu’s Rayalaseema political policy is causing consternation among the old-timers of the policy. Instead of strengthening party from within, Naidu appears to have chosen a policy of encouraging the other party leaders into TDP especially from YSRCP. This ,he thinks, as the right way to hit at Jagan. He is wooing them with posts in the party and the government. Especially, Naidu is more interested in weaning away Reddy leaders from YSRCP mainly, and Congress to some extent. The resentment against Naidu’s policy with regard to YSRC is stronger in Kurnool district.
Naidu first appointed Silpa Chakrapani Reddy as the district TDP president much to the surprise of senior party members and later he was made MLC. He is also appointed party in-charge of Srisailam Assembly segment. Similarlh, M Mallikarjun Reddy , a Congress man, till the other day is offered the post of chairman, district cooperative central bank chairman. Similarly, an former YSRCP leader Rajasekhar is made ZP chairman.
Among other posts, Vishnuvardhan Reddy is appointed party in-charge of Kodumur, Shilpa Mohan Reddy is asked to look after Nandyal segment. And other defectors who were honored with posts were M Sivananda Reddy (Nandikotkur), T G Venkatesh (Kurnool), Erasu Pratap Reddy (Panyam), Tikka Reddy (Mantralayam). All these leaders have switched over to TDP either from Congress and YSR Congress just before elections or after the elections.
The promotion of defector has caused a vertical split in the party into party old times and freshers. The old timers allege that the leaders who came from other parties were encouraging their own followers in the party and ignoring the loyalists. They complain that this is the result of Naidu’s obsession with Jagan. It would alienate the party from loyalists and old-timers and finally harm the party in long-run.
