The Telugu Desam Party appears to be looking at the local body polls in Andaman and Nicobar islands as the launch pad for its foray into the national politics.
The party has fielded 18 nominees on its behalf in the elections slated on Sunday, a majority of them as panchayat members in addition to two candidates for the zilla parishad and one each for samiti and pradhan posts. TDP leaders are exuding confidence that the party is sure to enhance its presence in the Union Territory given the significant chunk of Telugu speaking people present there.
Significant move
The intentions of making a foray into the national scene can be seen from the fact that almost half of the candidates are of non-Telugu origin. There are five Tamilians, three Muslims and one each from Bengali and Punjabi communities among the TDP candidates in the fray.
The move assumes significance as the TDP, at its biennial conclave Mahanadu, had resolved to enter the national political scenario and it has accordingly been looking at the prospective areas in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in addition to some pockets in Maharashtra and Odisha.
The elections in Andaman and Nicobar islands could be seen as launch pad for the party’s foray into national politics, according to senior leaders.
The party leadership is waiting for the outcome of the elections as it would help the party learn a lesson or two to proceed with its plans in other States. Contesting in the elections in the Union Territory is also being seen as the party’s attempt to rally together votes of Telugu speaking people as also the sympathisers in other communities.
The seriousness with which the party leadership has pursued the elections in Andaman can be gauged by the fact that TDP president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has deputed his deputy N. China Rajappa to extensively campaign for the party there.
The Union Territory has 1.3 lakh Telugu speaking people of the close to four lakh population, according to TDP’s Andaman Nicobar Islands in-charge Madhava Naidu. Telugus constitute a large chunk of population in the Union Territory almost equal in number to Tamils while the Bengalis continue to be in the first place.
“We are confident of securing at least five to seven seats,” Mr. Naidu told The Hindu from Andaman. The TDP had secured one seat in the municipal council of Port Blair which has over 50,000 Telugus.
The TDP is confident that it would secure more seats in the current elections as the party is confident of receiving support from other communities too after it fielded candidates from these communities.
