Andhra Pradesh - Ongole   

Internal squabbles tell on Telugu Desam in Prakasam

ONGOLE: The crisis in Telugu Desam Party in Prakasam district is deepening due to internal squabbles and open defiance in selection of candidates in at least four Assembly constituencies – Kanigiri, Giddalur, Addanki and Chirala.

Kadiri Babu Rao, party in-charge for Darsi constituency resigned his post on Thursday expressing a wish to contest from Kanigiri constituency. It came as a jolt to the party which is yet to resolve the problem posed by former minister, Paleti Rama Rao who had resigned as party in-charge for Chirala constituency in protest against the alleged interference of district president, Karanam Balaramakrishna Murthi in his constituency.

Senior leader, Ch. Garataiah stirred the hornets nest by making a proposal to the party chief, N. Chandrababu Naidu some days ago that the party should be careful in selecting candidates in some constituencies if it wanted to win them.

Mr. Garataiah wants to contest from Addanki constituency replacing sitting MLA, Mr. Balaram causing discomfiture to the party high command. He made things worse by suggesting that the party should give ticket to Linga Reddy to contest from Giddalur lest the party should lose both Giddalur and Markapur where the latter enjoyed influence.

Annoyed by this statement, Ms. Pidatala Saikalapana Reddy, who represented Giddalur before, insisted that it would be better for the party to defer all agitations in her constituency till the leadership issue is resolved.

Mr. Garataiah also raised the issue of Kanigiri. He felt that only Mr. Mukku Kasi Reddy, former minister and former chairman of Zilla Parishad, can win Kanigiri seat. This has angered Mr. Babu Rao, who was angling for ticket to contest from Kanigiri. So he resigned his post as in-charge of Darsi and insisted the party to take a decision on Kanigiri sooner than later. Mr. Babu Rao was class-mate of cine actor, Balakrishna. He is confident that Mr. Balakrishna would prevail on his brother-in-law Mr. Chandrababu Naidu to get him Kanigiri ticket.

Mr. Garataiah had contested from Perchoor constituency in the last elections. As Perchoor constituency has been lost due to delimitation, he now wants to shift to his native Addanki constituency. But Mr. Chandrababu Naidu scoffed at his followers when they raised the demand during his tour of Prakasam district two months ago.

The party in-charges who met here resolved to work unitedly under the leadership of Mr. Balaram and exhorted other leaders not to make their own representations to the party chief. But Thursday’s incidents show that the crisis is far from over in the district TDP.

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