Hyderabad, December 04: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu is maintaining a strategic silence on YS Jagan Mohan Reddy or his soon-to-be-launched party. The unfolding developments in the Congress were worse than that during 1978-83 and 1989-94 was all he would say at a press conference here today.
Pressed further, Naidu said, “I will not speak on individuals.” He, however, hastened to add that “People are well aware of who are coming to them and on what purpose.” The TDP chief is likely to maintain the same strategy till Jagan launches his new party and hits the streets. Asked whether the Congress would be wiped out in the state ushering in a regional party-era like in Tamil Nadu, Naidu said: “I will not speak on all these things now.” On Jagan raising Telugu’s self-respect issue, Naidu said it was the slogan of the TDP and none could hijack it. However, Naidu criticised the Congress for paralysing the administration in the state by mishandling its internal affairs leading to discontent among its leaders on ministerial berths and portfolios.
“While people are suffering a lot due to various issues, the ministers and Congress leaders are pre-occupied with power politics in the party,” Naidu alleged.
The Congress was suffering from ‘money mania’. While tainted ministers found place in the state cabinet, party president Sonia Gandhi was choosing tainted officers like Thomas in key posts at the Centre, Naidu alleged. He evaded direct replies on whether Kiran Kumar Reddy’s cabinet will complete its full term. Asked if this government will be in office till Dec 11, Naidu said if there was no elected government, the chief secretary would be the in-charge or President’s rule might come.
Naidu, however, termed the ongoing developments as the internal affairs of the Congress.
He opposed awarding of the maximum ministerial berths to one particular caste and not following social justice. “The TDP always delivered social justice and maintained balance among various castes in the cabinet,” he said.
–Agencies