Are Chandrababu Naidu’s plans to infuse new blood into the TDP causing more problems than they are solving? It appears so. Just as Chandrababu Naidu is promoting his son Lokesh, the district level leaders and other seniors too have their proteges. Just as the Chandrababu-Lokesh duo will contest from two seats, the other seniors too are demanding two seats each.
If one family-one ticket policy is to be applied, then it should start with Chandrababu himself. If not every major political family would demand one seat for the dad and the other for the heir. Paritala Sriram has categorically said that his mother would contest from Rapthadu in Anantapur. He has also said in no uncertain terms that he would quit the party if his demand was not met with.
Similar demands are said to be coming from various quarters in the party with seniors demanding tickets for their sons too. No one is prepared to pass on the baton. They want a seat for their wards in addition to what they already have. Chandrababu has no way of avoiding these ‘family packages’ as of now. If these packages are allowed, then all his plans of infusing new blood will come to a naught.
There are several such ‘families’ in the party. Already sons are slowly becoming active in the TDP and instead of taking over from their parents, they are prefering to contest from another seat. This would only mean that several new young faces without any family background may not get the seat. This could drive such leaders into the fold of other parties, which are waiting to lap them up.