Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu has asked the Lok Sabha contestants in Seemandhra region to “match” the election campaign dynamics of their opponents.
Mr. Naidu was here on his way to Prakasam district on Tuesday.
In a one-to-one closed door discussion with the party candidates, he quickly reviewed the campaign programmes.
He said all the contestants in three Assembly segments under Vijayawada parliamentary constituency, Nuzvid and Machilipatnam segments under Machilipatnam parliamentary constituency were falling behind, sources say.
He made it very clear that they should fight it out in the election.
Comparing the campaign manoeuvres of rival parties, Mr. Naidu apparently asked them to keep a track of funding and expenditure of their opponents.
Sources say the TDP president minced no words and said some candidates were turning out to be slow coaches despite the polling date fast approaching.
There was no other go for them except to speed up their campaign.
And, it was time to strike a chord with party men and also alliance party leaders, they say.
Vijayawada Parliamentary constituency candidate Kesineni Srinivas (Nani), Guntur candidate Galla Jayadev, Narasaraopet candidate Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Machilipatnam candidate Konakalla Narayana Rao and others met Mr. Naidu.
A hectic activity was witnessed at the hotel where Mr. Naidu stayed put on Monday night.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and former Mayor Mallika Begum joined the Telugu Desam in the presence of Mr. Naidu. Mr. Nani introduced her to the party president. Later, speaking to reporters, she said that she was inspired by the Telugu Desam Party’s philosophy and leadership. The State required leader like Mr. Naidu, she said.