India – Andhra Pradesh State – The Telugu Desam Party’s annual conclave, Mahanadu, began on a grand note in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, with party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurating the two-day event in a hybrid format from the party’s central office in Mangalagiri.
Naidu unfurled the TDP flag and paid floral tributes to the statue of party founder and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao. Senior leaders, including TDP Working President and Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh, Politburo members, and national and state committee leaders also participated in the opening ceremony.
This year’s Mahanadu was conducted in a hybrid format, with party leaders and activists joining both physically and virtually. According to party leaders, activists from 1,875 clusters and representatives from all 175 Assembly constituencies participated online, watching speeches and proceedings through digital platforms.
Addressing party workers, Chandrababu Naidu described the TDP’s yellow flag as a symbol of “self-confidence for Telugu people,” while calling the national flag the pride of the country.
“The enthusiasm among party ranks has not diminished despite reduced physical attendance,” Naidu said. “Lakhs of people participated virtually and celebrated the first day of Mahanadu.”
Naidu highlighted the Telugu Desam Party’s role in national politics, describing it as one of the few regional parties to significantly influence political developments at the national level. He said the party’s formation, electoral victories, and political growth had all been historic milestones.
A major highlight of the event was an announcement by Nara Lokesh regarding women’s representation within the party. Lokesh declared that the TDP would reserve 33 percent of seats for women in future elections, regardless of whether the Women’s Reservation Bill is passed in Parliament.
“From now on, the Telugu Desam Party will allocate 33 percent of seats to women,” Lokesh announced during his speech, reiterating a “big announcement” he had hinted at earlier on social media.
Lokesh also strongly defended the TDP government’s development agenda and praised Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership in attracting investments to Andhra Pradesh.
“If investors are queuing up for the state, it is because of the efforts of Chandrababu Naidu,” he said.
He launched sharp criticism against the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), accusing it of political harassment, violence, and damaging the state’s reputation.
“Ours is Google, yours is axe. Ours is a fighter jet, yours is faction politics. If ours is Kia, yours is kidnapping,” Lokesh remarked while contrasting the governance models of the two parties.
Alongside politics, traditional cuisine remained an important part of the Mahanadu celebrations. Organisers prepared a special menu featuring dishes said to be favourites of TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao, including pumpkin halwa, ragi sankati, and sugar pongali.
Due to the hybrid format, the feast was limited to central committee, state committee, and Politburo members attending the event physically. Around 25 varieties of traditional dishes were reportedly prepared for nearly 4,000 participants.
The two-day Mahanadu is expected to focus on party strategy, governance achievements, welfare policies, and preparations for future elections in Andhra Pradesh.
