Make or break phase begins for Naidu

HYDERABAD: With the conclusion of his marathon padayatra on Saturday, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu will step into perhaps the most crucial phase of his political life. Not only will the next few months determine the future of the 64-year-old leader, but will also shape the fate of the political party that has been out of power for nearly a decade.
After covering about 2,817 km in 208 days with occasional breaks, the TDP chief is slated to end his padayatra in Visakhapatnam district and address a public meeting in the port city on Saturday. Beginning the padayatra on October 2, 2012, Naidu covered 16 districts, 84 assembly constituencies, 160 mandals, four corporations, 28 municipalities and 1,246 villages. The padayatra of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, that swept him to power, had covered only 1,450 km. But will it be enough for Naidu to be swept back to power? This is the question that is uppermost in the mind of TDP cadres who are desperate to once again enjoy the fruits that emanate from being a ruling party.
Naidu's last attempt at electoral success flopped. In order to woo the electorate in 2009, he had announced a cash transfer scheme to the tune of Rs 2,000 per woman family member, but it did not cut any ice. Secondly, after much haggling, the TDP chief had formed a 'Maha Kutami' with the TRS and Left parties. In the very first meeting of the grand alliance, KCR had introduced Naidu as the 'going-to-be-chief minister of the state.' However, that did not happen, and many are still wondering whether Naidu will ever return to occupy C Block and once again rule the state.
It is not a rosy picture as far as TDP and Naidu are concerned. While the party is faced with erosion of leaders and various sections of the electorate in the Seemandhra region, mostly in favour of the YSR Congress, in the Telangana region, it remains a suspect in the eyes of the people in view of Naidu's two eyes theory. "In the coastal and Rayalaseema region, the TDP is battling a stronger Congress and a formidable YSR Congress. The merger of Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress can swing several seats in favour of the ruling party at the cost of the TDP. And in the other seats, the YSR Congress is posing a serious threat. In most constituencies in the Seemandhra region, the TDP might end up as the loser in the triangular contests that appear a certainty now," an apprehensive TDP leader said.
TDP sources said Naidu is aware that the stakes are very high for him and the party in the coming elections. "It is for this reason that we have devised a twin-strategy by which we hope to leave our opponents behind. The first is that the TDP chief has almost finalised the candidates for both the Lok Sabha and assembly in about 70% of the constituencies, and the remaining will be completed by June. The candidates will thus, have at least a year to campaign in their constituencies. The second is that Naidu has made promises to each and every section of the society, and intends to fulfill all of them when he is voted to power," said the sources.
In the course of his padayatra, Naidu has made over 100 promises to people. For farmers, it is loan waiver, 9 hours free power and Rs 10,000 per acre in case of crop damage. For backward classes, it is 33% reservation in legislatures, an annual sub-plan with an allotment of Rs 10,000 crore. For scheduled castes, it is categorisation benefitting the Madigas, implementation of the SC/ST sub-plan and revival of the SC/ST commission. For tribals, the sop is pension for those aged 50 and above, Rs 50,000 for a girl's marriage and two acres of land for the landless. For minorities, the sops offered are 15 seats reservation in the assembly and local bodies, reservation in jobs and education and Rs 50,000 for the marriage of poor girls of the community. Similarly, the TDP chief has assured specific sops to the upper caste poor, Brahmins, Kapus, youths, students, unemployed and disabled.
Naidu loyalists are however, confident that 2014 will be their year. "Thousands of people that our leader met during his padayatra had only one message for him: Take charge of the state once again. And that is what will happen next year," said an aide, brimming with confidence. On the flip side, in case the TDP does not do well, the very future of the party will be at stake as it would be difficult for the party chief to retain the cadre in his fold for five more years.