As TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu arrived in Andhra Pradesh for the first time in nearly 2 months, scores of people thronged to welcome him at different places, ignoring physical distancing norms and creating risk of COVID-19 infections. Naidu, who had been staying at his Hyderabad residence since the lockdown began, reached his Undavalli residence in the Amaravati capital region on Monday afternoon.
కృష్ణాజిల్లాలో చంద్రబాబునాయుడుకి అడుగడుగునా ఘనస్వాగతం పలుకుతున్న తెలుగుతమ్ముళ్ళు#TDPTwitter @ncbn pic.twitter.com/qBxGhqrVrQ
— TV5 News Channel (@tv5newsnow) May 25, 2020
Videos showed crowds thronging to greet him, waving TDP flags, cheering and whistling, at various points in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh where Naidu’s convoy passed, including Kanchikacherla, Nandigam and Mulapadu, according to videos and reports. Naidu was seen briefly stepping out of his car, wearing a mask and waving to the crowd. The enthusiasm of TDP supporters saw the breakdown of physical distancing norms at several places, as they jostled to greet Naidu.
It wasn't planned. Chandrababu Garu himself made it clear to party cadres not to come&welcome him. But some of our party cadres came to greet him (pic 2). It was a spontaneous response: K Pattabhiram, TDP on party cadres violating lockdown to welcome party chief Chandrababu Naidu pic.twitter.com/gviWAZnev4
— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020
Naidu was earlier scheduled to take a flight from Hyderabad to Vizag to visit the areas affected by the LG Polymers gas leak, before going on from Visakhapatnam to Amaravati by road. With the resumption of flight services in the state being postponed to Tuesday, he cancelled his Vizag visit to go to Undavalli directly.
TDP leaders accused the YSRCP government of postponing the operations at the two airports, to foil Naidu’s Vizag visit.
Meanwhile arrangements are being made to conduct the party's annual Mahanadu conclave through videoconferencing, on account of the COVID-19 restrictions.
Party sources said that close to 14,000 party cadres would participate in the conclave, which Naidu will attend from the TDP office at Mangalagiri. The annual conclave coincides with the birth anniversary of party founder and former Chief Minister of undivided AP, late NT Rama Rao.
The conclave will discuss the political situation in the state and also pass resolutions signalling the party's strategy in the year ahead. The current situation in the state following the COVID-19 outbreak is also expected to figure in the discussion.
IANS inputs
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