The performance of the Telugu Desam Party in the Telangana by-elections was dismal. Let alone winning a seat, some of the party nominees could not get back their security deposits in a few constituencies.
TDP candidate and actor Babumohan could poll just 5,200 votes and stood at the bottom of the table, losing his deposit. During the campaign, the comedian accompanied some hundreds of his supporters in the main villages of Siddipet constituency. Needless to say, there are several party workers at the village level who should have cast their votes!
Apparently, the recent membership drive launched by the party turned out to be a farce. One may guess that even the TDP members have cross-voted either for TRS or Congress.
The TDP nominee in Vemulawada, according to reports, was lagging behind an independent candidate. The party needs to do some soul searching, perhaps.
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has said that the party did not take the elections seriously. However, the truth is that the TDP was losing its base in the Telangana region.
The sooner the party realises, the better it is for the organisation. Unless it resets the logistics and policy, the rhetory that the TDP as an issue-based party working for the people, will only end up in a slogan.