After the unexpected results in the Telangana Assembly elections, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has virtually announced ‘an emergency in the party’. The rank and file of the party have to toil for the next six months – until elections – and there are no exceptions, he said in a stern voice.

The Telugu Desam had the patronage of the people and the cadre was also enthusiastic. If there were any deficiencies, it was in the leaders, who have to correct themselves, he said, adding that the party would ensure the ‘right man in the right place’.

Mr. Naidu was addressing the TDP coordination committee meeting on Friday.

Aspirants under watch

Stating that he was eliciting public opinion about the leaders, Mr. Naidu said that he was taking all kinds of reports into cognizance to assess the performance of the leaders. The people and cadre’s acceptance was a must. The party expected dedication and sincerity from the leaders. Those bestowed with posts would have to work with zeal, he said.

The aspirants would have to work hard. The leaders have to mingle with the people in the coming days and take the welfare activities, developmental programmes and achievements of the government to them. The leaders who showed no interest in important activities like membership drive would face action. The leaders would have to remember that ‘take it easy’ attitude would not be tolerated, he asserted.

‘EVMs not reliable’

People were not trusting the EVMs. Securing more votes than polled votes was beyond logic. It was the right of the citizen to know whether his or her vote was cast to the person of their choice. There should be no room for doubts. Else, it would amount to a mockery of democracy.

“Trust and credibility are the basis for democracy. The onus lies on the government to create confidence among the public. There is a need for discussion on the EVMs across the country,” he said.

Responding to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s comment that he would give a return gift, Mr. Naidu said that he would be happy if Mr. KCR visited Andhra Pradesh. “He has plans to visit the State only to create confusion,” he added.