TDP To Split Over Telangana?

Reports emerging from the NTR Trust Bhavan indicate that Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu is in for tough times ahead, as party leaders from Telangana increase pressure on him to come out with a clear stand on the contentious issue.

Media circles were abuzz, on Sunday, with rumours that the party's Telangana face, Nagam Janardhan Reddy, was contemplating quitting the party over the issue of Naidu's plans to start a new committee on Telangana, despite a forum on the issue in existence. Nagam is the convenor of the Telangana Telugu Desam Party Forum.

Nagam is believed to favour strengthening the forum, making it an independent segment of the party, so that it can represent the party if the bifurcation of the state goes ahead.

The rumours that Nagam Janardhan Reddy was contemplating quitting the party were triggered off when he convened a meeting at his residence and invited Kadiam Srihari, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Hareeshwar Reddy, Maheshwar Reddy, Revuri Prakash Reddy, Vijaya Rama Rao and Uma Madhava Reddy.

The meeting was called to discuss Nagam's proposal that a separate TDP segment on Telangana be formed.

This meeting was called at a time Naidu had himself convened a meeting with Nagam, Kadiam Srihari and Errabelli Dayakar Rao to discuss the setting up of a committee on Telangana.

The fact that the leaders preferred to attend the meeting called by Nagam and not the one called by Naidu let loose a flurry of rumours, with political watchers going in a tizzy and some even going to the extent of saying that the TDP had split.

According to a source close to Nagam, the meeting at his residence saw leaders voice their disenchantment with Naidu for encouraging alleged political mugwumps like Devender Goud, Nama Nageswara Rao, Ramesh Rathod, Revanth Reddy, Talasani Srinivas and others who have been accused by the TDP Telangana protagonists of diluting the T-stir.

The meeting is also said to have decided that the leaders should increase pressure on Naidu to opt for a separate segment which can take policy decisions on its own, rather than form a committee.

However, Nagam and Errabelli hastened to dispel the rumours, and categorically stated that the party had neither split nor will it do so in the foreseeable future.

Nagam said, "We met to discuss the future course of action for Telangana statehood."

He also pledged his complete faith in Naidu's leadership, and stated that the fight for Telangana will go on under the former chief minister's stewardship.

Courtesy: INN