Naidu’s plan to tap Reddy power to rise in Telangana

Hyderabad:  Telangana TDP, which is facing a rough weather in the new state and had suffered a major jolt as some of its important leaders including MLAs quit the party, is now working out new strategies to rejuvenate the party. According to party sources, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu is understood to have decided to revamp the Telangana unit of the party and infuse young blood into it.

He wants to appoint a leader who can take on TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao effectively and also infuse new enthusiasm within the rank and file of the party. He started evaluating the performance of party leaders so that he can announce the name during the three-day Mahanadu slated to begin on May 27. This has resulted in a hot race between Kodangal MLA A Revanth Reddy and party senior leader E Dayakar Rao.

But indications are that  Revanth Reddy stands a better chance and also enjoys the confidence of Naidu. The very fact that Naidu gave MLC ticket under the MLA quota to Vem Narendra Reddy who was strongly supported by Revanth is a clear indication that Revanth is now the blue-eyed boy of Naidu, political analysts say. Sources say that Naidu has two reasons to finalise the name of Revanth Reddy.

One -- the Reddy community is a political force in Telangana  and the other reason that goes in favour of Revanth is that he is close to the rising star in the TDP Nara Lokesh, son of Naidu. Revanth is also known as a fire-brand leader and the only one who has been taking on the Telangana Chief Minister.      

Revanth is also said to have the support of majority of leaders in South Telangana districts where Reddys are dominating the party.  Party leaders said that other senior leaders  M Narasimhulu (from SC community), R Chandrasekhar Reddy and Revuri Prakash Reddy also threw their hats in the ring.  

But Naidu is learnt to be of the view that none of these leaders can be as effective as Revanth. The TDP president is also said to have expressed his unhappiness over the failure of L Ramana in preventing exodus from the party. He is also of the opinion that Ramana being soft natured is unable to go aggressive against the TRS leadership.