The Hindu : Voices of dissent in TDP after first list

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Voices of dissent in TDP after first list

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 22. The announcement of the first list of 72 candidates by the Telugu Desam set off protests by party men expressing unhappiness at the leadership over its choice of nominees.

In an open display of defiance, party leaders from several districts either shouted slogans in NTR Bhavan, held improptu media conferences or submitted memoranda to the TDP leaders. Hundreds of aspirants for the ticket and their supporters thronged the party headquarters waiting for an audience with the TDP chief, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Capping a day of dissension was the announcement of his resignation by A. Chandrasekhar, ex-MLA from Vikarabad (SC) in Ranga Reddy district, from the TDP and his move to join the TRS. He blamed Home Minister, T. Devender Goud, for the attempts to deny him the party ticket.

The TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, who spent the whole day discussing the lists with party men avoided a scheduled visit to the party headquarters. He summoned a group of TRS leaders from Yellareddy constituency in Nizamabad, seeking to cross over to the TDP, to his residence.

Keeping in view the day's developments, the TDP chief is likely to release a brief list of about 35 to 40 candidates tomorrow.

Mr. Naidu sought to contain the damage in East Godavari where protestors shouted slogans against him in Amalapuram yesterday against the choice of Metla Satyanarayana. In a bid to pacify the district party president, Nimmakayala Chinarajappa, an aspirant for Amalapuram, he has summoned him to Hyderabad reportedly to sound him for the Kakinada Assembly seat.

About 50 supporters of Labour Minister, P. Babu Mohan, chanted slogans demanding his re-nomination from Andole (SC) seat in Medak district which he has been representing for six years.

Key party functionaries, including Mandal presidents, threatened to resign from the TDP if the Minister was denied the ticket or shifted to Palair (SC) in Khammam district.

They accused the former MP, P. Manik Reddy, of plotting against him.

On the other hand, a group of leaders from Mylavaram in Krishna district said they would not brook any attempt to re-nominate an `outsider' like the Agriculture Minister, Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao.

Alleging that he had neglected local TDP workers and encouraged Congressmen, they demanded that the Mylavaram ticket be given to J. Ramesh Babu, former MLA.

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