Hyderabad, April 12: The gulf between the Nara and Nandamuri families, instead of closing, widened further today with Telugu Desam Vijayawada Urban committee president Vallabhaneni Vamsimohan, a staunch follower of Harikrishna, resigning from the party post.
In a resolve to tighten his grip over the party reins and protect his loyalists, party president N Chandrababu Naidu last night rejected the resignation submitted by Krishna district TDP president Devineni Umamaheswara Rao who does not see eye to eye with Vamsi and Kodali nani, another close follower of Harikrishna and NTR Jr.
The boiling point was reached when the district unit allegedly failed to make arrangements for Harikrishna’s recent tour of Krishna district and a miffed NTR’s son cancelled his tour abruptly and Vamsimohan resigned from the party post. The latter declared that only either he or Devineni should be in the party as they could not work together.
In his reaction, Umamaheswara Rao too resigned and both the leaders awaited party chief’s decision. With Naidu rejecting Krishna district chief’s resignation, Vamsimohan felt Naidu was ignoring Harikrishna’s group and resigned today. The day saw Vamsi submit his resignation thrice and withdraw it as many times since the Harikrishna camp did not have a definite strategy to checkmate Naidu.
While directing Uma to continue in the party post, Naidu ordered an inquiry into the Harikrishna tour row by party general secretary Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary. This irked Harikrishna’s followers. “How can Naidu reject the resignation of Uma before the enquiry committee even submitted its report?” wondered Harikrishna’s aides.
They also rejected the party’s charge that Union minister Daggubati Purandeswari was behind the rift. “Naidu should have called a meeting before rejecting the resignation of Uma,” Vamsi felt.
However, Gudivada MLA and NTR Jr’s close confidant Kodali Nani declared that he would remain in the party founded by NTR Sr and would not resign as MLA.
Butchaiah Chowdary told reporters that if Vamsi did not withdraw his resignation, the party would accept it immediately, indicating that Naidu is firm on his stance and does not want to tolerate the “indiscipline” of Harikrishna’s followers.
Interestingly, the followers of Harikrishna said today that NTR Jr had no immediate plan to jump into active politics. “NTR Jr is busy with films and Nara Lokesh Naidu is busy with his business,” said Vamsi.
If the feud between the two families continues, the legacy of NTR ideals are sure to dominate the next elections. Like late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s photo being used by Congress and YSR Congress, NTR’s photo will be used by different groups at the next elections. The Daggubati couple always juxtaposed NTR’s photo with that of Indira Gandhi during their election campaigning.
Even two days afater his outburst, Harikrishna neither showed remorse nor cared to issue a clarification that he was not disposed against Naidu. This led credence to the belief that the tussle between the two families is real and intense.
—Agencies