Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Naidu elected TDP president for fifth consecutive term

By Our Special Correspondent

Chandrababu Naidu, who is all smiles on being re-elected party president, flanked by K. Yerran Naidu and T. Devender Goud at the Mahanadu in Tirupati on Wednesday. - Photos: P.V.Sivakumar

TIRUPATI MAY 28. Nara Chandrababu Naidu was elected president of the Telugu Desam Party for the fifth consecutive term at the party's Mahanadu here today following which he gave a call to his party cadres to reach out to the masses.

Responding to felicitations after his unanimous election, the TDP chief announced that the party would undertake a `Jana Chaitanyam Yatra' for 12 days from June 9 in all the 294 Assembly constituencies. He gave his partymen a five-point programme of explaining the Government's policies to the people, participating in their implementation, countering the Opposition's propaganda, maintaining rapport with the people and, finally, creating confidence among the

masses.

Mr. Naidu earlier took a pledge to serve the party loyally and safeguard the interests of all sections and regions, after Ummareddy Venkateswarlu, the State Election Committee convenor, announced the election result. The announcement was greeted with applause and beating of drums while senior party leaders presented bouquets to their leader.

The TDP chief declared that he had no ambition of becoming the Prime Minister as suggested by party MP, Lal Jan Basha. In fact, he had been offered this highest post twice when the UDF Government was in power in New Delhi. When pressure on him to accept the Prime Ministership increased, he threatened to return to Hyderabad on the ground that he had an unfulfilled agenda in Andhra Pradesh.

Describing the TDP cadres as members of one family, he said he knew every leader since 1983. He had been at the forefront of the `save democracy campaign' when NTR was toppled in August 1984. It was a matter of satisfaction to him that all the 161 MLAs who chose to remain with NTR had heeded to his advice.

Mr.Naidu said a survey at the recent district-level mini-Mahanadus had revealed that 89 per cent of party workers were satisfied with his performance, seven per cent were not, while four per cent were undecided. The confidence of his partymen was a source of strength and determination for him to perform and work harder to gain the appreciation of the remaining seven per cent, he added.

Striking a personal note, the TDP chief said that during the last seven years that he had been at the helm, he had never taken a holiday or remained at home to enjoy a festival as he believed that every action of his was likely to impact the 7.60 crore people of the State. He had observed simplicity in his lifestyle and frowned upon ostentation at every function, barring the Mahanadu, he added.

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