Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and workers from different parts of Andhra Pradesh were pouring at the Mangalagiri party headquarters where party president N. Chandrababu Naidu continued his sit-in on Friday to protest Tuesday’s attacks allegedly by the workers of ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

A large number of party supporters from various parts of the State descended on the party’s central office to express solidarity with their leader.

TDP leaders alleged that due to the traffic restrictions imposed by police, those coming from other parts of the state were being forced to leave their vehicles and walk long distances to reach the party office.

Naidu, who began the 36-hour protest at 8 a.m. on Thursday, spent the night at the protest site and resumed the protest on Friday morning after garlanding the statue of party founder and former chief minister N.T. Rama Rao. The protest with the title ‘fight against state terrorism’ will continue till 8 p.m. on Friday.

TDP leaders and workers coming to the party office were gathering in front of Naidu sitting on a specially arranged sofa. The TDP chief was responding with folded hands. Party leaders were addressing the gathering to condemn the attacks on party offices and leaders.

Naidu has demanded the Centre’s intervention to save the people of Andhra Pradesh from what he called the drug mafia and the undemocratic and fascist regime.

The leader of opposition has urged the Centre to invoke Article 356, saying Andhra Pradesh in its present situation was a fit case for imposition of the President’s rule.

He alleged that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was growing impatient over the increasing public resentment against his government’s atrocities, all round corruption and attacks on all constitutional institutions. Tuesday’s attack on TDP main office was not a sporadic, isolated incident but a culmination of two-and-a-half years of lawless, anarchic and oppressive regime, he said.

Alleged workers of YSRCP attacked TDP’s central office on Tuesday in an apparent reaction to TDP spokesman Pattabhi Ram using abusive words while criticising Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

TDP offices in some other places in the state and Pattabhi Ram’s house in Vijayawada were also attacked.

Ram was arrested by the police on Wednesday and a court in Vijayawada sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the inclusion of caste data in the census.

In his letter, the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister noted that such a census is essential for the progress of the Backward Castes (BCs).

The BCs comprise the majority of India’s population but are not receiving benefits proportional to their numbers, he said.

The first BC commission, in 1953, and subsequently several other national and state BC commissions had recommended enumeration of BCs in the national census, he noted.

“There is speculation that a caste census would further deepen the social divisions and promote discrimination. However, the exclusion of caste data can be as unjust as caste-based discrimination. Lack of data will only result in inefficient policies and weak implementation of schemes meant for the welfare and development of BCs,” he said.

Naidu said that BCs remain in poverty due to lack of sufficient data, although several government policies have been formulated for their welfare.

Stung by the string of reversals in Kuppam, TDP chief is on a course correction mode in his home turf of Kuppam. Starting from Tuesday (October 12), he would camp in Kuppam for three days to regain the lost ground. He is all set to meet the party workers and leaders to breathe new confidence among them. During this period, he would also review the party position and the reasons for the electoral defeats in Kuppam.

On October 12, he will address a public meeting in Kuppam. He would also conduct a road show in Kuppam. On October 13, he will cover Ramakuppam and Santipuram mandals. On the last day, he would cover rural Kuppam and Gudupalli. During this period, he would meet old-timers, party loyalists and others.

The panchayat elections, though not fought on party basis, were a wakeup call. Out of the 89 panchayats in Kuppam assembly constituency, the YSRCP supporters bagged 74, while the TDP had to remain content with just 14 panchayats. Soon after this debacle, Chandrababu Naidu stayed for three days in the constituency and interacted with several leaders. This has succeeded in instilling confidence among the voters.

The TDP had boycotted the MPTC and ZPTC elections. But there were party candidates fighting the election unofficially. The YSRCP had won 17 of the 19 MPTCs, leaving two for the TDP in Kuppam mandal. It won all the 16 in Ramakuppam and all but one in Gudipala and Santipuram mandals.

TDP workers and leaders feel that Chandrababu’s three-day visit will breathe new life into the party and will re energise the party. The party workers are making preparations to ensure that Chandrababu’s three-day tour will become successful.