The Hindu : Front Page : Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao expelled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao expelled

Special Correspondent

Action seen as deterrent to all senior TDP leaders who publicly air their views

K. Vidyadhara Rao

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party on Monday expelled Kotagiri Vidyadhar Rao, former Minister and MLA from 1983 to 2004, “for going against the party discipline and openly proclaiming support to filmstar Chiranjeevi’s yet to be launched political outfit”.

The TDP Polit Bureau discussed the issue of Mr. Rao extending logistic support to the film star’s core committee meetings. Based on views expressed in the Polit Bureau, party president N. Chandrababu Naidu is said to have decided to expel Mr. Rao.

The last such action was against former Himayatnagar MLA Krishna Yadav. Prior to that, it was that of actor-turned Rajya Sabha MP Manchu Mohan Babu.

The action against Mr. Rao is seen as a deterrent to all senior leaders who publicly aired their views on different issues, including a separate Telangana.

Several portfolios

Mr. Rao first entered the Assembly in 1983 as an Independent and got elected on TDP ticket in 1985.

He was known to be a vocal leader who handled several portfolios from Agriculture to Industries under N.T. Rama Rao and Mr. Naidu.

He had told his followers on Tuesday last that the party president appeared to have lost confidence in him due to the ‘machinations’ of a section of leaders in West Godavari district.

Late on Monday, TDP general secretary K. Kala Venkat Rao issued a release announcing the party’s expulsion of the former minister. It is said that efforts by Polit Bureau member Y. Ramakrishnudu and TD Parliamentary Party Leader K. Yerran Naidu to arbitrate did not have any effect and hence the action against him.

In the morning, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu told a press conference that he would speak directly to senior party leaders who had come out openly in support of Mr. Chiranjeevi’s party, as well as those backing separate Telangana.

Stating that it was not proper for the seniors to openly air their views on sensitive issues, he felt some of them had crossed the ‘Lakshman rekha’.

“The party is taking note of such leaders’ remarks,” he replied to a query.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page