Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s business acumen raked in Rs 56 crore for the Telugu Desam during its membership drive in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In Telangana, Telugu Desam got about Rs 9 crore from 9 lakh newly enrolled members and Rs 47 crore from 47 lakh members in Andhra Pradesh.

The TD charged Rs 100 for party’s active membership, which included sops like Rs 2 lakh accident insurance coverage, 10 per cent to 50 per cent concession in select private hospitals in both states in hospitalisation and diagnostic tests and 10 per cent bus fare discount in a private travel agency. “Membership drive is still on. The party received about Rs 56 crore at the rate of Rs 100 per member from 56 lakh members in both states.

In Telangana, we enrolled about 9 lakh so far and we are sure to touch 10 lakhs,” E. Dayakar Rao, Telugu Desam floor leader in the Telangana Assembly, told this newspaper. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti, which is also on a large scale membership drive, has not raked in such a large amount. As on date, the party enrolled 24 lakh members in nine districts while reports from Hyderabad city are yet to be compiled.

The TRS leadership expects the membership to touch 50 lakh. Party leaders deposited Rs 60 lakh from membership in the ongoing drive. Unlike the Telugu Desam, the TRS collected Rs 50 for active membership (Rs 25 for SC, STs) and Rs 10 for ordinary members. “We do not save on membership fee. The CM announced Rs 2 lakh accident insurance coverage to every member. The insurance premium costs about Rs 15/Rs 16 per head and card Rs 15 among other expenses.

The party might have to shell out money from its coffers,” Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, convener of the TRS Steering Committee overseeing membership drive, said. The Congress, which has enrolled 15 lakh members, will get Rs 75 lakh towards membership fee at the rate of Rs 5 per head. The party set a target of 25 lakh membership. The BJP, on the other hand, is focusing on free membership.

Source: DC