Harikrishna says NTR wanted Telugus to remain united

Hyderabad: The internal bickering between N Harikrishna and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders came to fore on Saturday on the occasion of the 18th death anniversary of the party founder, NT Rama Rao.

Addressing the media after paying tributes to former chief minister at NTR Ghat here, Harikrishna stated that NTR had always strived for Telugu pride and wanted all Telugu people to remain united.

But now the leaders of all parties were more interested in votes and hence were indulging in selfish politics.

Referring to his resignation from the Rajya Sabha, Harikrishna said, “some idiots,” including those who are in the TDP, commented that he had resigned from the upper house of Parliament in a state of emotion. “They should understand that NTR was for united State and the TDP was born out of emotion. If he was alive, the State would not have been in such a pathetic situation. Contrary to the claims being made by some TDP leaders, I never supported the State bifurcation,’’ he explained.

Harikrishna denied reports that he was contemplating to join the YSRCP. He said he was ready to make public the details of his mobile conservations to prove that he never held any talks with anyone on this issue.

However, TDP politburo member E Dayakar Rao, who visited the Ghat, said that Harikrishna had given his acceptance to the party’s decision to support separate Telangana State. He said Harikrishna had stated that he was in favour of separate Telangana but for reasons best known to him had gone back on his words. If NTR was alive, the process of bifurcation would have been smooth and it would have been over by now. Meanwhile, Harikrishna’s son Jr NTR made it clear that he had no plans to enter into electoral politics.