TDP against dismissal of volunteers, village secretaries

** Chandrababu announces salary hike of more than Rs 5000

K Varaprasada Rao

Kurnool: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu has made a significant and strategic announcement in the state, declaring that he will not dismantle the village and secretariat volunteers system. Instead, he plans to continue and enhance it by offering more than Rs 5000 to eligible volunteers.

The volunteers’ network, comprising 2.81 lakh of them across the state, has emerged as a highly debated issue in the ongoing elections. The TDP has extensively targeted this system, expressing concerns that these volunteers are a crucial element for the YSR Congress Party’s strategy to sway voters in its favor. The party and its supporters have lodged numerous complaints with the Election Commission, demanding the removal of the system from the state or keep them away from election-related duties.

There have been apprehensions within the TDP that the volunteers appointed by the YSRCP, who receive a monthly payment of Rs 5000, are being utilised more for political purposes than for genuine welfare services. Allegations suggest that these volunteers are being used to garner support for the party among the populace.

However, in a strategic move, Chandrababu Naidu announced on Friday that he will not dismiss the volunteers from their positions if they operate in a “democratic” manner. Furthermore, he plans to increase the remuneration for volunteers who possess proper educational qualifications. This announcement is seen as a tactical decision by Chandrababu Naidu, considering the upcoming elections and the potential influence of these volunteers on voters, especially in favor of the YSRCP.

By opting to retain and potentially improve the volunteer system, Chandrababu Naidu aims at navigating the electoral landscape effectively and counter the perceived advantages that the YSRCP may have gained through its volunteer network.