Nagam pushes for independent TDP T unit, denies rift with Babu

Reports emerging from the Ntr Trust Bhavan indicate that Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu is in for tough times ahead after party leaders from Telangana have increased 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 Mr Naidu’s plans to start a new Committee on Telangana, despite a Forum on the issue in existence. Mr Janardhan Reddy is the Convenor of the Telangana Telugu Desam Party Forum.

Mr Janardhan Reddy is believed to favour strengthening of 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 Mr Janardhan Reddy was contemplating quitting the party were triggered off when he convened a meeting at his residence and invited Kadiam Srihari, Erraballi Dayakar Rao, Hareeshwar Reddy, Maheshwar Reddy, Revuri Prakash Reddy, Vijaya Rama Rao and Uma Madhava Reddy.

The meeting was called to discuss Mr Janardhan Reddy’s proposal that a separate TDP segment on Telangana be formed.

This meeting was called at a time Mr Naidu had himself convened a meeting with Mr Janardhan Reddy, Mr Kadiam Srihari and Mr Dayakar Rao to discuss setting up of a Committee on Telangana.

The fact that the leaders preferred to attend the meeting called by Mr Janardhan Reddy and not the one called by Mr 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 who is close to Mr Janardhan Reddy, the meeting at his residence saw the leaders who attended voice their disenchantment with Mr Naidu for encouraging alleged political mugwumps like Devendar Goud, Nama Nageshwar 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 the pressure on Mr Naidu to opt for a separate segment which can take policy decisions on its own, rather than form a committee.

However, Mr Janardhan Reddy and Mr Dayakar Rao hastened to dispel the rumours and categorically stated that the party had neither split nor will it do so in the foreseeable future. Mr Janardhan Reddy said, “We met to discuss the future course of action for Telangana statehood.”

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