An audio leak of Minister Narayana has gone viral on social media. In the clip, Narayana stresses the need for discipline among party leaders and warns them to be cautious when speaking about alliance matters.
He reminds everyone that the three-party alliance formed the current government and said leaders should only speak when instructed by the party office or district units. Narayana, who oversees the Kakinada Parliament segment, also made strong remarks about the situation in Pithapuram.
Speaking about Varma, he said, “Varma in Pithapuram is very ferocious. Earlier, he won as an Independent after being denied a ticket. The Chief Minister spoke to him and made him zero. He should visit Janasena leaders only when invited.”
The TDP leadership’s focus on maintaining alliance discipline is clear, but the handling of this issue has raised concerns. As Narayana admitted, Varma winning as an Independent in Andhra Pradesh politics shows his ground strength. In a state where elections are driven by money and influence, such victories are rare.
If TDP cadre, who are deeply attached to the Cycle symbol, cross-voted for him, that proves Varma’s strong local support. Ignoring such a leader or “making him zero” could be a costly mistake. In politics, cadre and leadership remain permanent, not alliances.
Analysts believe Chandrababu Naidu should have worked out an alternate arrangement for Varma to ensure harmony in Pithapuram. The leaked audio, where a Minister’s internal conversation becomes public, is seen as a major embarrassment and a setback for TDP’s internal management.
Across the state, TDP has faced similar challenges. Constituencies like Visakhapatnam North, Kaikalur, and Vijayawada West were repeatedly allotted to allies like the BJP in 2014 and 2024. As a result, the party failed to build local leadership in these areas.
When TDP contested alone in 2019, it suffered major losses to the YSR Congress Party, showing how over-dependence on alliances weakened its grassroots. Political watchers now fear Pithapuram might face the same fate.
Narayana’s leaked audio also hints that TDP may not give the promised MLC seat to Varma, leaving him at a crossroads about his political future.
