The recent one-on-one meeting of former Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal with Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu raised many eyebrows and led to several speculations in the media.
While a section of media predicted that Lagadapati might join the TDP sooner or later and contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, another section predicted that he had lobbied for the bailing out of Lanco Kondapalli power project by the AP government as its operation period has come to an end.
There were also reports that Lagadapati also sought Naidu’s help in overcoming the financial crisis Lanco Group is undergoing at present, using his clout at the Centre.
The latest information is that Lagadapati has given the chief minister a secret report on an independent survey conducted by his agency on the performance of the Naidu government and the prospects of the TDP in the next elections.
According to the survey, Naidu is still a favourite chief minister for the people of Andhra Pradesh, but there is a widespread resentment against the TDP MLAs in majority constituencies.
The people are extremely unhappy with the performance of several TDP MLAs as they are misuing power and indulging in corrupt practices.
Lagadapati reportedly suggested to Naidu to change at least half of the present TDP MLAs and replace them with fresh candidates, so that it would reduce the anti-incumbency to a greater extent.
He also pointed out that Naidu should speed up works on Amaravati construction so that there would be some visible development on the capital city for the people to believe him.
Since Lagadapati survey reports are mostly reliable with high percentage of accuracy, Naidu is learnt to have taken them seriously and decided to overhaul the party at all levels.
