Encouraged by the TDP’s victory last week in two seats in the local body elections in Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, party leaders here are asking Chandrababu Naidu to explore opportunities in Odisha too in its bid to emerge as a national party.
Over 30 lakh Telugu-speaking people live in areas such as Chatrapur, Berhampur, Parlakhemundi, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Jeypore in Odisha. Senior TDP leader Gorle Haribabu Naidu on Friday urged TDP national president Chandrababu Naidu to look into the possibility of expanding to Odisha. “There are ample opportunities for the TDP to win seats in Odisha too if the party contests the next election in the neighbouring State,” he said.
He said TDP Andhra Pradesh state committee president Kala Venkata Rao has contacts with several public representatives in Odisha and his good offices would work well for the party. TDP state wing vice-president PV Ramana and general secretary Sriakkulam Boina Govinda Rajulu said the party happens to be strong in Srikakulam district with the support of settlers from Odisha. “TDP will have a national outlook if it has presence in Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar,” they said and added that they would give representation to Mr. Naidu to pursue the possibility. The party leaders said influential parties in Odisha may join hands with the TDP to win the support of Telugu people in several constituencies.
Slow and steady policy
Sources said, however, that the party wants to adopt slow and steady policy in making inroads into neighbouring states.
Over 30 lakh Telugu-speaking people live in Odisha
