The Hindu : Friend turns foe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 02, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda

Friend turns foe

By Our Staff Reporter

NALGONDA, APRIL 1. The fate of Vangala Swami Goud, the district Congress Committee president till three days ago, has been changed overnight, thanks to the Telugu Desam Party's decision to field him as its nominee for the Miryalaguda Parliamentary seat. His sudden volte-face has become the talk of the town. His opponent is none other than the All-India Congress Committee spokesperson, S. Jaipal Reddy, with whom Mr. Goud rubbed shoulders till recently. By jumping in the bandwagon of his sworn enemy, the TDP, suddenly his foes have become friends and vice-versa. An uneasy calm prevailed in the chambers of the Joint Collector, M. Purushottam Reddy, when Mr. Jaipal Reddy entered it to file his papers on Wednesday. On seeing him, Mr. Goud politely approached Mr. Jaipal Reddy with a broad smile. On being asked by Mr. Reddy whether he had filed his papers, he said that he would file them later. Congress and CPI (M) leaders, accompanying Mr. Reddy, were amused to see Mr. Goud sporting yellow `khanduva.'

After finishing all formalities, Mr. Reddy and his supporters left the room. Making things worse for Mr. Goud, no TDP leader stood by him while he was filing papers.

Asked for the reason to join the TDP on the last day of filing of nomination papers, Mr. Goud told The Hindu: "I was hurt when the Congress denied ticket to Backward Classes. I want to bring social justice to these downtrodden sections.''

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