True to its tech-savvy image, the ruling Telugu Desam Party has drawn up plans to provide cell phones to its key functionaries as part of efforts to have an edge over the opposition during the poll campaign ahead.

Over 7,500 party leaders, including assembly constituency-level coordination committee members, publicity secretaries and other functionaries, will go mobile.

"We want our party leaders to be adequately networked and ensure that there is no communication gap between the leadership and the cadre in the field," a TDP source said in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

BSNL had offered a special package under 'closed user group' with a monthly rental of Rs800 and free calls worth Rs300. The package is now being modified with a monthly rental of Rs500, but without the free calls provision, so that more party workers can join the network, the source said.

"We are also working out a separate package for village-level party workers under BSNL's limited mobility service 'Tarang'," the source said.

By equipping the campaign coordination committee members with mobile phones, the party leadership will be able to keep in touch with them through SMS.