Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ranks are in an uproar over senior party leaders sharing a vehicle with YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Jogi Ramesh during the unveiling of the Sardar Gauthu Lachanna statue in Nujiveedu, Eluru district, on Sunday. This incident has sparked widespread criticism within the party. Disgruntled party workers have taken to social media to lash out at TDP leaders who attended the event, expressing outrage at their association with Jogi Ramesh, a former minister who had targeted TDP President Chandrababu Naidu during his time in the opposition.
All Senior leaders, including Kolusu Parthasarathi, Konakalla Narayana-the Chairman of RTC, MLA and Palasa Gauthu Sirisha facing massive protest for taking part in such function with Jogi Ramesh. Several party members debate against a senior leader attending such event who welcomes such a controversial person along him as in an incident of Jogi Ramesh has been making obloquy comments against Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and other key in-charges of the Party like Lokesh.
None has left untouched the TDP leaders who came to their defense. Parthasarathi and Gauthu Sirisha were saying that it was a social, non-partisan event that they had organized, and that they had no clue as to who had been Jogi Ramesh. It has, however, strengthened the criticisms and criticisms against the leaders as memes started doing rounds on social media platforms ridiculing and criticizing them. Comments like "Why go to a program when one does not know who all are being invited?" And "What was the necessity of traveling in a vehicle with Jogi Ramesh?
A widely circulated picture of TDP leaders sitting idly while Jogi Ramesh lights the ceremonial lamp evoked sarcastic remarks. Some of the posts featured sharp-tongued commentary like:
The unpopularity among party followers has intensified as they remember Jogi Ramesh's previous diatribe against Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh when the YSRCP was in power.
The TDP leadership responded on Monday, with National General Secretary and Minister Lokesh expressing anger over the leaders’ participation. He demanded explanations from Parthasarathi and Gauthu Sirisha. In a press conference in Vijayawada, Parthasarathi expressed gratitude to the TDP for his position and vowed lifelong loyalty to the party. Gauthu Sirisha stated that she attended the ceremony unaware of Jogi Ramesh’s participation and apologized to Chandrababu Naidu, promising to avoid such situations in the future.
Despite these clarifications, TDP supporters were not convinced. Comments like "Are they children to not know who's attending?" and "Even if it was unintentional, why parade in the same vehicle with Jogi Ramesh?" highlight their dissatisfaction.
Many party members believe the root cause is the leniency of the TDP leadership. Critics say that lax behavior in the party has been encouraged by the failure to take strict action against erring leaders. The leadership frequently warns against crossing party lines, but the lack of enforcement has frustrated the rank and file.
Conclusion
The Nujiveedu incident has exposed internal frustration within the TDP ranks. While leaders like Gauthu Sirisha and Parthasarathi attempt damage control, their actions have left party workers disillusioned. The leadership's approach to these grievances will be crucial in maintaining party unity and morale.
