Hyderabad, January 10: The Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, which has emerged as a punching bag for the pro-Telangana groups due to the party’s neutral stand on bifurcation of the state, is slipping into crisis.
The party leadership had to witness a revolt of sorts with three senior party leaders holding a parallel meeting exactly when Naidu was discussing the Telangana issue with seniors of the party from Telangana.
Led by former minister and a senior leader of TDP, Nagam Janardhan Reddy, two others- Kadiam Srihari and E Dayakar Rao – are in a mood to bid good bye to the party. The trio along with their followers held a meeting at an undisclosed location till late on Sunday. It is also believed that the rebel leaders are in touch with the KCR-led Telangana Rashtra Samiti for their future plans.
In fact, TDP sources said the trio was not invited by Naidu to the crucial Telangana meeting. Though the Naidu meeting was in-camera, sources privy to the proceeds of the meeting said the party chief was not in a mood to convince the rebel leaders. “He (Naidu) told in clear terms that there would be no effort to convince the leaders willing to leave the party. But, he would not tolerate any attempt to split the party,” source said.
Nagam Janardhan Reddy, in fact, was demanding creation of a separate division of the TDP for Telangana to which Naidu opposed.
“It is a fact that the propaganda carried out by the TRS and other T-forces have portrayed the TDP as an anti-Telangana party. The party cadre at the ground level is already joining the TRS. But, the party leadership has different plans and there is no clarity on the way the leadership is gearing up to keep the party afloat,” another senior party member said. By late on Sunday, it is learnt, Naidu had summoned the rebel leaders.
The party’s disciplinary committee headed by former former minister Vijayarama Rao too is hands on with the rebellion.
“We think the issue will be resolved and there would be no split in the party. Naidu is in favour of the party leadership participating in the Telangana movement. But, he is more keen on keeping the party intact,” another source in the party said.
—Agencies