TDP must change with times: Babu

Maintaining that the Telangana and Seemandhra regions were like the two eyes of the Telugu Desam Party, its president N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday stressed on the need for the party to change according to the times.

Briefing media persons at his residence on Sunday on the preparations to celebrate the party’s thirtieth anniversary which falls on March 29, Mr Naidu said that there was a need to change party policies to suit the present. The former chief minister revealed that the party will undertake a series of review meetings beginning March 29, 2011 for 14 months. This series of review meetings will conclude on May 29, 2012 at the Mahanadu.

The purpose of these review meetings would be to strengthen the party base at grassroots level. The review meets will be held every month and discuss the political situation prevailing in the state and the party’s response and standing. The review meetings will also take up other issues and make decision on policy matters, he pointed out.

Reminding that the party was formed to infuse the youth, Mr Naidu said that the youth would be invited to join the TDP, as desired by its founder NT Rama Rao. Mr Naidu called upon party cadre to bring more educated and young candidates in the party fold and thus revitalize and strength the TDP. The TDP chief said that intense discussions will be held during the review meetings on the party agenda and its stand on policy matters and take steps to change according to needs and situation.

The party will take steps to go to grass root level and make concerted efforts to bridge the gap between the party and the people, the former chief minister stated. He also reiterated that the party would continue its fight for solutions to problems faced by the backward classes and farmers’ welfare. “The backward classes and farmers are backbone of TDP,” he stated. He added that party had earlier in the past brought all opposition parties on a single platform against the ‘corrupt Congress’ and has played a key role as a responsible Opposition in the state.

When asked about the TDP being accused of adopting dual standards on separate statehood demand, the former chief minister stated that the TDP has not showed any discrimination towards Seemandhra and Telangana. He said that both Seemandhra and Telangana regions are two eyes for the TDP and they were and would be given equal importance, without any discrimination, by his party.