Naidu urges Kiran, Pawan to strengthen TDP

Hyderabad: Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu Sunday asked former chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and actor Pawan Kalyan to back the TDP to ensure a bright future for Telugu-speaking people.

Kiran Reddy last week announced the formation of a new political party to fight for the self-respect of Telugus. Pawan Kalyan, brother of central minister K. Chiranjeevi, is reportedly planning to float another party.

"Kiran, Pawan or whoever he may be should ponder how formation of new parties will help the people. Telugus have already suffered and our actions should not make them suffer more," said Naidu and advised them to strengthen the Telugu Desam Party for a strong Telugu community.

Naidu was addressing a meeting at the party office while welcoming two Congress leaders and former ministers into the party.

Confident of the TDP coming to power in both Seemandhra and Telangana, Naidu said by developing both the states his party would prove its sincerity vis-a-vis the Telugus.

The former chief minister alleged that Andhra Pradesh was divided to damage the TDP. He said the attitude of Congress created a divide between the people of the two regions.

Alleging that landlords were trying to reap the political benefits in Telangana, Naidu said he was keen to see a leader from backward classes as the chief minister in Telangana.

Former minister T.G. Venkatesh and E. Pratap Reddy formally joined the TDP. They were ministers in the cabinet of Kiran Reddy, who resigned last month to protest against Andhra Pradesh's division.

Pratap Reddy said they decided to quit the Congress as it went ahead with the bifurcation without taking into consideration their views that the division would badly hit Seemandhra.

Another former minister Galla Aruna Kumari Saturday joined the TDP.

All the three, like Naidu, hail from Rayalaseema. Former minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who is from coastal Andhra region, has already joined the TDP.