It is known that the TANA event is scheduled to be held in Novi, Michigan on July 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Traditionally, many TDP leaders are expected to attend, given the long-standing affinity between the organization and the party.
However, for the first time, sources within TANA indicate that the TDP top leadership has taken an unexpected stance.
Leaders who had already arrived in the U.S. have reportedly been instructed to complete their participation and return to India immediately.
More strikingly, other leaders who were scheduled to travel in the next day or two have been asked to cancel their trips altogether.
This surprising decision appears to have been driven by several factors. One concern is the internal politics within TANA itself.
The party leadership reportedly feels that the organization’s internal divisions and rivalries could reflect poorly on the TDP if their leaders are seen as aligned with any particular group. To avoid becoming entangled in these disputes, the party prefers to maintain a distance for now.
Another potential issue is the way some visiting MLAs might engage with NRIs. There are suspicions with past experiences that a few leaders may make false assurances such as promising personal access to Chandrababu Naidu or Nara Lokesh for business or political favors.
In anticipation of such meetings, NRIs might go out of their way to extend generous hospitality covering expenses, arranging shopping trips and offering a luxurious experience to MLAs.
However, once the event concludes and the MLAs return to India, there's a chance that those promises may not be fulfilled, which could leave NRIs disappointed and result in reputational damage for the party as a whole.
Furthermore, in moments of enthusiasm, NRIs may capture and share photos of MLAs in casual or private settings; images that, if circulated on social media, could potentially harm the public image of the party. Even unintended posts could be misinterpreted or politicized, leading to avoidable controversy.
Because of all these reasons, it looks like Nara Lokesh and Chandrababu Naidu have decided not to let the party or its leaders get too involved with TANA this time.
