The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has officially kickstarted its annual political convention, Mahanadu, with a strong and symbolic decision. Just a day before the Mahanadu commenced, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu took a bold step by renaming YSR Kadapa district back to its original name, Kadapa district.
This move has sparked immediate political reactions. Leaders from the YSR Congress Party (YCP) have expressed intense dissatisfaction, calling it a deliberate attempt to erase the legacy of Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR). The YCP cadre alleges that Chandrababu Naidu is playing political games by targeting the name of a beloved former leader, especially in his native district.
The timing of this decision, right before the TDP Mahanadu, is seen as a strategic move by many political analysts. It sets the tone for TDP’s upcoming political battles and sends a message about reclaiming symbolic control over Andhra Pradesh’s identity and administration. Meanwhile, demands are also rising from other quarters — notably from YS Sharmila — who questioned whether the NTR district, named after TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao, should also be reconsidered if fairness is truly the goal.
As TDP begins its Mahanadu, this decision has already stirred the political atmosphere across the state. Whether it strengthens TDP’s political standing or intensifies the opposition’s aggression remains to be seen.