TDP’s Secular Image At Risk, Leaders Losing Balance!

Telugu Desam Party Leaders seem to be losing their balance. In a hurry to score over Jagan Mohan Reddy, they seems to be unknowingly losing their hard-earned Secular Image.

In the discussion over Laddu issue in the Council, Minister Atchannaidu made controversial remarks. “వేంకటేశ్వరస్వామి మీద ఇంత కక్షకట్టి పని చేస్తారనుకోలేదు..మీరు మీ నాయకుడు క్రిస్టియన్లు, అయినా తప్పు పట్టకూడదు,” Atchannaidu said to which the Council Chairman took a strong objection.

TDP Leaders are trying to corner Jagan in the name of Christianity but in the process, they are offending the Christian Vote Bank. All this started with Chandrababu Naidu slipping on the same topic.

Speaking in the Assembly about Laddu issue, Chandrababu Naidu mentioned how a Christian IAS Officer gave the G.O. of Tirumala consisting of only two hills, YV Subba Reddy’s wife carrying Bible, and Karunakara Reddy’s daughter married in a Church.

This is the first time Chandrababu Naidu spoke as if he does not need the votes of a section. TDP always maintained its Secular Image even when it was in alliance with the BJP.

The same TDP maintained its Secular image even during the Godhra issue. But this is the first time, the party is going in a different direction.

Traditionally, the SCs, STs, and Dalit Christians have voted for Congress and later to YSR Congress. But even then, TDP did not give up on their Votes. In fact, that is how a Political Party should move ahead especially when it claims itself to be Secular.

Maybe the leaders are just following Chandrababu Naidu. That indicates the party did not realise what is happening or may have consciously taken this decision.

If it is the second case, this is a new chapter in the Telugu Desam Party. This strategy is similar to that of BJP’s.