The Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) annual event Mahanadu has managed to make some noise, albeit for unflattering reasons.
Internal conflicts, family drama and mudslinging ruled the event, and political observers scrutinizing the proceedings have observed that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has failed to try and win over the state's major minority community, the Muslims, to his side.
According to sources, there are but 2 Muslim leaders in the party and they failed to make an appearance at the Mahanadu. It has been reported that Mohammed Saleem of the Jubilee Hills constituency is the only Muslim leader who managed to grab any limelight at the event. This, however, was attributed to his announcement of donating Rs. 25 lakhs to the party's treasury.
Cracks appeared in the TDP's relation with the Muslim community, with the then MP Khaleelur Rahman quitting the party to join the Congress.
Basheeruddin Babu Khan is also reported to have quit the TDP when Naidu aligned with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) more than half a decade ago - an action that Babu apologized to the Muslim community for at the Mahanadu.
During the 2009 election, yet another Muslim leader, Yousuf Ali, ditched the TDP, and went on to join the ranks of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
The cracks widened, with Naidu miscalculating the emotional blow that the Muslim community was dealt with by the Gujarat riots. His decision to stick with the NDA spelt his doom, and his defeat in the 2004 elections is attributed to this aspect.
Experts analyze that the TDP is making a mistake by not patching up with the Muslim community in the state.