Hyderabad: First bifurcation, and now reorganisation of districts by the TS government has dealt a political blow to the TS Telugu Desam. In the two years since bifurcation, many of the TD’s frontline leaders, including MLAs and MLCs in TS, particularly in Nizamabad, Medak, Karimnagar and Warangal districts, have left the party. In some districts, some senior leaders are still loyal to the party, but now their clout is confined to smaller areas after the increase in the number districts from 10 to 31.
The situation is so dire that the party is finding it tough to find senior leaders to appoint them to the district committees. Like all other parties, the TD has to constitute 21 more district committees. In many districts, there are leaders suitable to be appointed as district presidents. The situation becomes clear if one gives context to the comments made by TS TD working president A. Revanth Reddy who said that the TRS government was trying to see that are no political opponents in at least 40 Assembly constituencies by reorganising the districts.
The only people smiling in the TD at present are the second rung leaders who are now confident of getting recognition, and posts, in the party hierarchy. In many districts, the party has to depend on second rung leaders. A senior TD leader said that this was a good opportunity for the second rung leaders to prove themselves. He said in many districts, including Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s home town of Siddipet in Medak district, second rung leaders are very active. Another senior TD leader said that reorganisation of districts was in one way helpful to the party as the seniors’ clout has been limited to smaller areas.
