Naidu regrets not contesting Banswada by-polls

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that his party would contest all the elections, whenever and wherever they held.

Addressing the party workers of KPHB division workers, where Tdp candidate D Samrajyam won the by-elections, at NTR Trust Bhavan here on Tuesday, Naidu claimed that the Tdp did not participate in Banswada by-elections for the sake of Telangana. However, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Congress took the Tdp's decision in wrong sense. He said instead of appreciation, both the parties have started targeting the Tdp for its decision, which was purely intended towards respecting the sentiments of Telangana people.

Naidu challenged both the Congress and TRS for an open debate on who brought development in the Telangana region. He claimed that it was only during Tdp's rule that developmental works were taken up in the region.

The Tdp chief accused the TRS of betraying Telangana people. He said that the TRS leaders only tried to exploit the sentiments while ignoring the development of the region. He also alleged that the Congress and TRS were hand-in-glove and were trying to damage the party in the region by all means. However, he said that the Tdp would teach a fitting lesson to the both the parties in future elections.

Naidu asked the TRS as to why it did not field its candidate in the Kukatpally Housing Board municipal division by-elections. He alleged that the TRS had secretly back the Congress candidates only to ensure that the Tdp candidate lose the elections. But, he said, the people in the division have foiled their attempts and ensure the victory of Tdp in the by-elections.

The Tdp president also predicted that all parties including the TRS will merge with the Congress and only Tdp would be left as the main opposition before the next general elections.