TDP resolves to implement 33% women’s quota in party tickets in next elections

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh has resolved to reserve 33% of its party tickets for women in the upcoming 2029 assembly and Lok Sabha elections, irrespective of the stalled national women’s reservation bill. The decision was announced by TDP working president Nara Lokesh at the opening of Mahanadu, the party’s two-day annual conclave, held in Mangalagiri, Guntur district. The event, themed ‘Stree Shakti,’ was conducted in hybrid mode due to the party’s austerity measures, with over 223,000 participants joining online. Lokesh emphasized that the TDP would lead by example, stating that women must move beyond being beneficiaries of welfare schemes to becoming active decision-makers. He criticized opposition parties for obstructing the national women’s reservation bill, calling for decisive action. ‘From the Mahanadu stage, I propose that the TDP allocate 33% seats to women in the 2029 elections,’ he declared, framing it as a commitment to India’s political future. TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reinforced the party’s focus on women’s empowerment during his inaugural address. He highlighted government initiatives like property rights for women, free bus travel under the ‘Stree Shakti’ program, and three free LPG cylinders annually under ‘Deepam 2.0.’ Naidu also claimed the current government had revived Andhra Pradesh’s economy and governance after the previous administration’s failures, while outlining plans to transform one lakh women into entrepreneurs. The conclave underscored the TDP’s broader agenda, including investments, youth opportunities, irrigation projects, and the development of Amaravati as a world-class capital. Lokesh’s proposal received support from party members, who praised it as a step toward greater women’s participation in politics. The decision aligns with Naidu’s vision of a ‘Swarna Andhra,’ where social, economic, and political dignity for women is prioritized.