It will be really a strenuous exercise for 63-year-old N Chandrababu Naidu to walk for 2,345 km in just 117 days. But the Telugu Desam president has decided to take the step only to put the state on the “development path” once again.
His walk for development will commence at Hindupur in Anantapur district on Tuesday. The real objective of his padayatra is to occupy the seat of power once again.
“The state had witnessed vast development during the TDP rule but the Congress ruined the state on all fronts. I want to see the state prosper again and earn international reputation,” Naidu told party workers here on Monday.
Several party workers performed pujas at Alipiri (Tirupti), Vijayawada and Hyderabad for the success of Naidu’s padaytara and for his health.
“Naidu is taking a daring step at the age of 63 for the welfare of the state,” Telugu Mahila president Sobha Hymavathi said after praying at a dargah.
Naidu is all set to set a record with his walkathon, TDP leaders claim. He has already had two records to his credit _ the longest stint as chief minister (9 years) and longest stint as leader of the opposition (more than 8 years).But what prompted Naidu to undertake such a difficult task at this age?.
The image of the TDP, which ruled the state for almost 20 years in its 30-year existence, is sagging. It is sitting in the opposition for the second time.
The next election will be tough and keenly fought with formidable rivals _ the Telangana Rashtra Samiti in Telangana and the YSR Congress in Andhra and Rayalaseema. The party’s position is not good in any region and has lost all successive by-elections.
And, several of its MLAs and key leaders are about to switch their loyalties to YSRCP or TRS. That will cause a major embarrassment to the regional party and if it fails to win a handsome number of seats in the next election, the very survival of the party might be at the stake.
Hence Naidu’s decision on the padayatra.
He is eager to make it known to people that he is not old and fragile, and his party is not weak. By walking 2,345 km, he is determined to get closer to people and win back the party’s traditional vote bank. Though Naidu has undertaken padayatra recently in some districts it was not continuous. He used it to test his strength and stamina for undertaking longer walks like the one contemplated now. However, this time Naidu has taken extreme care to attract the masses.
He has taken tips from film writers and directors on body lanaguage and dialogue delivery, and has six songs, which will be blared out during his walkathon, penned by film lyricists.
Interestingly, all the six songs glorify Naidu rather than party founder NTR. The reason being dished out is that the young generation has not seen the movies of NTR and is not much familiar with him. That is why Naidu wants to bank on his personal image. he will project himsel as the architect of the state’s information technology base and creator of thousands of jobs to the youth.
The pragmatic Naidu is aware that he is not getting any younger and is keen to rope in his son Lokesh and brother-in-law and actor Balakrishna into active politics sooner than later.
No leader in the country has ever walked 2,345 km in just 117 days.
Comments
0 comment