Unhappy TTDP leaders skip oath ceremony

Hyderabad: The TDP, which had recently constituted central committee to ensure the smooth functioning of the party in both the Telugu states so that it could grow as a national party, suffered a setback on Sunday when some of the important TTDP leaders like the floor leader in Assembly E Dayakar Rao, E Peddi Reddy and Mandava Venkateswara Rao skipped the oath-taking ceremony presided over by national party president N Chandrababu Naidu.

The saving grace was the presence of the newly-appointed working president of the TTDP A Revanth Reddy. But he left midway after the oath ceremony. This has upset party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who later held a meeting with the TTDP leaders, is learnt to have expressed his displeasure over the discontent among T leaders. According to party insiders, Naidu said that he could not comprehend what was wrong with these leaders since the announcement was made after much deliberation.

• Top leaders skip party oath-taking ceremony
• Senior leaders’ behaviour surprises Naidu

All leaders knew what post they were getting before the announcement. The leaders, who did not express any reservation at that point of time, should not behave like this, he seems to have said. Naidu also told TTDP president L Ramana to talk to these leaders and sort out the issue. It is also said that Naidu would be convening another meeting of TTDP leaders after returning from his tour of South Korea to discuss on how to revive the party in Telangana.

Naidu is said to be of the view that the leaders should bury their hatchet and get into action so that the party can regain the political space it had lost after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh as the downward swing of the popularity of TRS government has begun. Naidu told the TTDP president that the purpose of these committees was to ensure that the party would form government in both the Telugu states after 2019 elections.

The leaders should realise this and work accordingly and not indulge in internal squabbles. Naidu told Ramana and other TTDP leaders that at any cost all the party leaders, including those who are now said to be unhappy should attend the foundation stone laying function of the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh at Amravati. He asked Ramana to take the responsibility to bring all of them for the function.

When contacted by The Hans India, E Peddi Reddy and Mandava Venkateswara Rao said that he did not attend the oath-taking function as he was not well. Despite repeated efforts, Dayakar Rao did not take the telephone calls. When asked if Dayakar Rao would also skip the assembly on Monday, party senior leaders, including Ramana said that Dayakar would attend Assembly. But some TDP leaders close to Rao say that even if he attends he may not play active role on Monday.

Revanth Reddy justified his early exit from the function saying that he had urgent personal work. He had recently lost his brother. Speaking after administering oath to TDP Central Committee members at NTR Trust Bhavan on Sunday, Naidu asked party cadre to work among the masses and try to resolve their problems. He said that the TRS Government has failed on all fronts, especially in resolving the agrarian crisis which led hundreds of farmers to suicide.

Further, he said that the Congress has failed to play the role of a responsible opposition due to lack of leadership. Therefore the TDP would emerge as the only alternative in Telangana and would form the next government, he said. Naidu said that the TDP would work for the development and growth of Telugu people living in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

By V Ramu Sarma