Defectors will lose identity in other parties: Naidu

Kakinada: TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu said here on Saturday that those who quit the party would turn "zeroes from being heroes" after joining other parties. They would suffer like fish out of water, he said. Speaking at a review meeting of Peddapuram constituency cadres in Kovvada village in Kakinada rural mandal in East Godavari district on Saturday, he likened the TDP to a factory churning out leaders. "While some leaders are leaving the party, workers are very much with it," he said, ruling any impact on the party due to defections. Naidu expressed anguish that some leaders were going all the way to Chanchalguda jail and joining 'thieves' party.' He alleged that Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy was instrumental in killing 200 TDP workers during his tenure. He came down heavily on Boddu Bhaskara Rama Rao who had left the TDP recently and joined the YSRCP. He expressed hope that the party workers would get have more room to grow after such leaders left. Earlier, representatives of the Dalit Christian Association and the Taxi Drivers' Association called on Naidu and submitted memoranda. He assured that Dalit Christians would be included in the SCs and promised that an advisory board would be constituted for the welfare of drivers and owners of taxis if the TDP came to power. District TDP president N Chinarajappa and district leaders Chikkala Ramachandra Rao and Gollapalli Surya Rao were present at the review meeting. Earlier, Naidu's Padayatra reached Kakinada city via Kovvada, Cheediga and Indra Palem villages.