In a move to expand its organizational structure, N Chandrababu Naidu led Telugu Desam Party has decided to contest the Lok Sabha and the Odisha Assembly elections in the BJD-ruled state next year.
Party Odisha in-charge Rajesh Putra told reporters in Koraput that the TDP will field candidates in 52 out of 147 Assembly constituencies and 5 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. He said the TDP aims to focus on the south party of state and thus will field its candidates on that party majorly. The move is motivated by the fact that the southern region of the state has Telugu Speaking People and party would aim to woo voters in that part.
He said ‘The party has decided to field its candidates from Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam and Nabarngpur Districts of Odisha. The party has a strong feeling that this party of the state has a handy population of Telugu People that would be beneficial to the party’.
TDP Boss is likely to announce the candidates for these seats. While a party-internal survey of these 52 seats is underway. He added we will try to reach out Telugu Speaking people with our work at Andhra Pradesh. People living in Odisha is looking for Development since years for which the TDP has decided to step in the Electoral Contest in the state.
While senior BJD leader and Minister SN Patro said the participation of the TDP in the Odisha Assembly polls will have no impact in Odisha Politics, Congress chief Taraprasad Bahinipati said that TDP candidates will eat into the Biju Janta Dal votes and will benefit Congress.
While the TDP has been preparing to field candidates in the southern region of the state, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already announced that the party will participate in the Odisha elections.