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Monday, Jan 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Telangana: fissures in Telugu Desam

Senior party leaders flay Devender Goud for his remarks on the issue

T. Devender Goud Y. Ramakrishnudu

HYDERABAD: After Congress, differences have cropped up in the Telugu Desam Party over the Telangana issue with senior leaders on Sunday castigating their colleague, T.Devender Goud, for his remarks that the party should take a firm decision on statehood for Telangana before the Mahanadu.

Dismissing his comments as “personal”, they reiterated that the party would take an “appropriate decision at an appropriate time.” But Mr. Goud stood his ground and maintained that a major political party like the TDP could not afford to remain a mere spectator when the situation was “politically charged.” Otherwise, it will be out of the game, he warned.

Only two senior leaders, Ch. Rajeswara Rao and S. Venuogopala Chary, almost supported him, while most of the others were highly critical showing a clear division in the ranks.

At a press conference here on Sunday, party leaders N.Janardhan Reddy, P.Chandrasekhar, M. Jagannadham and P. Yadagiri, said it was “improper” on the part of Mr. Goud to have aired his views in public as TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu had recently instructed partymen not to express their opinions in public on Telangana.

Goud faulted

The ruling Congress itself had not spelt out its stance on Telangana and the UPA sub-committee headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had not yet submitted its report. In such a situation where was the need for the TDP to spell out its stand, they asked. Moreover, the issue was between the Congress and TRS.

Echoing similar views, another senior leader, Y. Ramakrishnudu, found fault with Mr.Goud for speaking out openly without any discussion within the party. From the beginning, the TDP was committed to an integrated State and subsequently announced that “appropriate decision would be taken at an appropriate time.”

The party had a clear line but there might be some confusion in some individuals, he added.

Former Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said no senior leader had a right to impose his views on the party. If his views differed with the party he was free to leave.

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