Naidu’s strategic move to undermine Jagan’s stronghold

The three-day conclave will not only be a platform to celebrate the party’s resurgence but will also serve as a morale booster for the cadre in Kadapa and the entire Rayalaseema region

kiranmai tutika I amaravati

In a bold political move, the Telugu Desam Party has chosen Kadapa, the stronghold of YSR Congress Party chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, as the venue for its annual Mahanadu conclave. The event, scheduled to take place over three days from May 27 to May 29, marks a significant shift in the party’s strategy and sends a strong message to its political adversaries.

TDP’s decision to conduct Mahanadu in Kadapa—the home turf of Jagan—appears to be a calculated move aimed at further consolidating its grip over the Rayalaseema region. The choice of Kadapa, which has long been an impregnable fortress for the YSRCP due to the dominance of the Reddy community and other local political dynamics, underscores TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s intent to unsettle his arch-rival ahead of the next elections.

In the 2024 elections, TDP, in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Jana Sena, made a historic breakthrough in Rayalaseema, capturing 49 out of the 52 Assembly seats in the region. 

This victory shattered the perception that Rayalaseema, particularly Kadapa, was an unbreachable stronghold of the YSRCP. Even in Kadapa district, where Jagan’s party had maintained dominance, the NDA alliance won seven seats, marking an unprecedented shift. Moreover, Jagan’s own majority witnessed a sharp decline compared to previous elections, signaling growing cracks in his bastion.

With this backdrop, TDP’s decision to hold Mahanadu in Kadapa is part of Naidu’s larger blueprint to further strengthen the party’s hold in the region and push YSRCP into a deeper crisis. The Mahanadu, held annually on the occasion of TDP founder Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao’s birth anniversary, is expected to witness an unprecedented turnout this year due to the party’s stunning success in the 2024 polls.

Lakhs of TDP supporters from across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and neighbouring states are expected to converge in Kadapa for the event, making it a grand spectacle of political strength.

During the Politburo meeting held on Friday, TDP leaders formally decided to hold Mahanadu in Kadapa. Senior leader and Minister for Agriculture K. Atchannaidu, while briefing the media, revealed that key resolutions would be passed on May 27 and 28, followed by a massive public meeting on May 29.

Notably, this marks the first time Mahanadu is being held in Rayalaseema since the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The last such event was conducted in Rajahmundry, a TDP stronghold.

The massive public meeting on May 29 is expected to be the defining moment of the conclave. By addressing the people of Kadapa on their home ground, Naidu aims to showcase his political strength and expand TDP’s influence in Jagan’s backyard. The public gathering is anticipated to have a lasting impact on the district’s political landscape and could potentially tilt the scales further in TDP’s favour in the coming elections.