Ever since Chandrababu Naidu gave a call to all those who left the party to come back, more people are leaving the party than those who already left are returning. In yet another shock to the beleaguered TDP chief, senior Kapu leader and former Union minister Ummareddy Venkateswarlu has alleged that Kapus were being dealt a raw deal in the TDP.
Ummareddy said that because he was fighting for the just rights of Kapus, he was being isolated in the party. He also said that he and other Kapus were being denied party tickets. A former agriculture scientist, Ummareddy said that while 25 seats used to be set apart for Kapus in the Assembly and six to seven in Parliament during 1985-86, there was not even a single Kapu member of TDP in Parliament now.
It is being said that Ummareddy was planning to leave the TDP. In the past also, he kept himself away from party politics. Later, he tried to come closer to Chandrababu Naidu. As there was no change in the party leadership’s attitude towards the Kapu community, Ummareddy has chosen to raise the bogey of revolt, say sources in the TDP.
It may be mentioned here that even before the by-polls, there has been exodus of powerful leaders from the party. The exit of Vizianagaram strongman Gadde Babu Rao, who joined the YSRC on Monday is being viewed as a major dent to TDP in the north coastal region. Vallabhaneni Vamsi, Vijayawada TDP leader and a staunch follower of actor Jr NTR is said to be on his way to YSRC. It is being rumored that TDP senior leader and former MP M V Mysoora Reddy of Kadapa district was also planning to join YSRC. (NSS)