The TDP, which has a long history of success and supremacy in Vizianagaram district, is now both rudderless and leaderless. The party which once reigned supreme in this district of the Rajahs, is a former shadow of itself. The party now faces an uncertain future.
Till recently, the royal clan of the Vizianagaram, led by Ashok Gajapathi Raju, dominated the district TDP like a colossus. But after a stunning defeat in 2019, Ashok Gajapathi is going through several problems. His health was failing and he had spent a lot of the time in Delhi, where he underwent treatment. Soon after he came back to the district, Corona struck and the Rajah remained confined to his home. In the meanwhile, the Mansas dispute came up and that took most of Ashok Gajapathi's time.
His daughter Aditi, who lost the 2019 elections for the Lok Sabha, is confined to home. She was widely expected to don Ashok Gajapathi's mantle, but she floundered the opportunities. The other Rajah, the Rajah of Bobbili, too is highly inactive. He appears to have lost the zeal to be in public life.
All other leaders, who enjoyed positions of power during the TDP rule are inactive now. Not just that, many are now under the spell of YSRCP strongman Botsa Satyanarayana. Some have already joined the YSRCP and yet others are in the process of switching over to the ruling party. As of now, the party is leaderless and direction-less. As a result, the party is considerably weakened in Vizianagaram district.
Till recently, the royal clan of the Vizianagaram, led by Ashok Gajapathi Raju, dominated the district TDP like a colossus. But after a stunning defeat in 2019, Ashok Gajapathi is going through several problems. His health was failing and he had spent a lot of the time in Delhi, where he underwent treatment. Soon after he came back to the district, Corona struck and the Rajah remained confined to his home. In the meanwhile, the Mansas dispute came up and that took most of Ashok Gajapathi's time.
His daughter Aditi, who lost the 2019 elections for the Lok Sabha, is confined to home. She was widely expected to don Ashok Gajapathi's mantle, but she floundered the opportunities. The other Rajah, the Rajah of Bobbili, too is highly inactive. He appears to have lost the zeal to be in public life.
All other leaders, who enjoyed positions of power during the TDP rule are inactive now. Not just that, many are now under the spell of YSRCP strongman Botsa Satyanarayana. Some have already joined the YSRCP and yet others are in the process of switching over to the ruling party. As of now, the party is leaderless and direction-less. As a result, the party is considerably weakened in Vizianagaram district.