Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is struggling day and night to bring his party to power in the 2024 assembly elections, has not been able to find ways to break the bastions of YSR Congress party in some districts.
One such district is Naidu’s home district – erstwhile combined Chittoor.
According to party sources, the district continues to be a tough nut to crack for the TDP president, as he has not been able to find right candidates to fight against the YSRCP.
In fact, in his own turf of Kuppam assembly constituency, Naidu is facing a tough time as the YSRCP is pulling all stops to defeat him in the coming elections at any cost. He is now putting in extra efforts to retain the seat because it is a matter of prestige for him.
But in 13 other constituencies in the combined Chittoor district, where the TDP lost all of them, Naidu has not been able to find the right candidates, as the YSRCP grew from strength to strength in these constituencies.
“There is no strong leadership in many constituencies in Chittoor, though the TDP appointed in-charges in some constituencies. Only second-rung leadership has been running the show, like for example, making arrangements for the padayatra of Naidu’s son Lokesh,” a party source said.
In some constituencies, Naidu is trying to lure former MLAs and other seniors, who distanced themselves from the party in the last four years, to take up the reins.
In Chittoor, for instance, he is said to be luring former MLA A S Manohar, who has become politically inactive for the last four years.
Manohar, who represented the assembly constituency between 2009 and 2014, lost the seat in 2019 to YSRCP candidate Arani Srinivasulu. In 2014, he was denied ticket which was given to D K Satya Prabha, wife of former MP late D K Adikesavulu Naidu.
Manohar held a meeting with his followers and friends on Sunday and announced his re-entry into active politics. He said he would abide by whatever Naidu takes about his contest from Chittoor in the next elections.
