Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Ex-Ministers wash TDP linen in public

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, NOV. 18. The internal bickerings in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) came to the fore at the party's district office here today which witnessed two former Ministers -- K. Jayaram and P. Shamanthakamani -- engaged in a wordy duel in the presence of party's State and district leaders.

As the party leaders were getting ready to commence a rally to the RDO's office protesting against the anti-poor and anti-women policies of the State and Central Governments, Ms. Shamanthakamani threatened to boycott the rally objecting to the participation of Mr. Jayaram. She had lost the last election from Singanamala, where she was given the party ticket in place of the then sitting legislator, Mr. Jayaram.

The issue

She alleged that Mr. Jayaram had not worked for the party during the elections and he did not attend the party's constituency-level meetings later. It may be mentioned here that a meeting held under the leadership of Ms. Shamanthakamani after the polls had unanimously passed a resolution urging the party leadership to expel Mr. Jayaram. However, no action was taken against Mr. Jayaram.

She said that party workers who are working hard would be hurt if Mr. Jayaram participates in the rally. Mr. Jayaram immediately shot back and told Ms. Shamanthakamani that "party leaders should decide whether I should participate or not."

`Mute spectators'

The TDP leadersstood as mute spectators even as both the leaders were engaged in an argument. Following the non-intervention of the TDP leaders, Mr. Jayaram left the party office in a huff. While Mr. Jayaram is three-time MLA and served as Minister, Ms. Shamanthakamani was a legislator and Minister in the Congress Government. She joined TDP after 1999 Assembly polls.

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