TDP Version 3.0: TDP hosts corporate workshops for its top leaders

Hyderabad: Politics as service delivery, treating every citizen as a customer, party cadre as employees, and service delivery as the product, these were the corporate lessons the ruling TDP imparted to its top leaders, MPs, MLAs and cabinet ministers at a recent leadership conclave.

In what was likely a first for south India, TDP conducted a corporate-style leadership conclave over two days on September 7 and 8 to share this thinking.

Held at the TDP Central Office in Mangalagiri, the conclave was designed as a professional, interactive workshop to upskill elected representatives, strengthen leadership capabilities, and prepare the organisation for the upcoming local body elections and the 2029 general elections.

Going beyond a conventional political conference, senior leaders themselves prepared and delivered sessions on political, organisational, governance, welfare and development issues.

Participants were encouraged to raise questions, discuss practical challenges, and engage in detailed two-way discussions with the senior leadership.

"We should treat every citizen as a customer, cadre as employees, and service delivery as the product. Leaders must adapt to the generational shift and rapid growth of AI, using technology to improve political and administrative work. Actively engage SHG women and youth, promote DWCRA loans, and make participation in skill-development programmes mandatory," said Union Minister Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, who led one of the sessions for party leaders.

Ten sessions were held over the two days, September 7 and 8, with Union Ministers Chandrasekhar Pemmasani and K Ram Mohan Naidu among those who took sessions.

"The Telugu Desam Party has always been ahead in understanding the aspirations of the youth. Our approach must evolve in a way that enables us to understand the thinking of Gen Z," said Ram Mohan Naidu.

Chief Minister and TDP National President N Chandrababu Naidu, addressing the conclave, said the focus must be on building effective leadership at every level and maintaining a continuous connection with the people.

He directed party representatives to make victory in the forthcoming local body elections an immediate priority while simultaneously preparing for the 2029 elections. He stressed alliance unity, stronger grassroots engagement and coordination among leaders.

The Chief Minister asked MLAs to set clear targets and identify 25 priority areas in every constituency, noting that focused work on these issues would help public representatives build recognition and credibility among the people.

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He also announced that leadership conclaves of this nature would be held once every three months, with MLAs who implement successful best practices given the opportunity to present them at subsequent meetings.

"Every ten years, a new generation emerges. Our performance and approach must change according to the changing generation," he said, stressing the need to understand the expectations of today's youth.

On the second day, TDP National Working President Nara Lokesh addressed a session on "Political Communication and Public Orientation," stressing the need for elected representatives to take social media seriously and use it effectively to communicate directly with the public.

He urged leaders to actively showcase the government's development and welfare initiatives through social media and to promptly counter Opposition misinformation with facts and evidence.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's use of selfie videos, Lokesh said leaders should adopt more direct and accessible forms of communication, citing his own use of selfie videos on the Suzlon wind projects and in countering the DSC misinformation campaign.

Calling this "TDP Version 3.0," Lokesh said the party must come first, internal discussions and debate were encouraged, but the final word on the agenda would rest with Chandrababu Naidu and the party.

He stressed stronger booth-level engagement, continuous cadre activation, direct public interaction, and faster resolution of people's issues.

Lokesh said the party's biggest challenge was not delivery itself but its failure to communicate the truth as strongly and consistently as the Opposition communicates misinformation.

He urged leaders to identify their weaknesses, work on them, and take responsibility for resolving public issues rather than merely forwarding them to higher leadership.

"This first-of-its-kind conclave marks a shift from conventional political meetings towards a structured leadership-development model combining training, peer learning, senior leadership mentorship and practical problem-solving, with a focus on building a more responsive, people-centric and election-ready organisation," said a senior TDP leader.