The Hindu : Front Page : Naidu may cut short ‘Mee Kosam’

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

Front Page

Front Page

Naidu may cut short ‘Mee Kosam’

Special Correspondent

Senior party leaders express concern over desertions

– Photo: Singam Venkata Ramana

Sharing strategy?: TDP president N.Chandrababu Naidu having a word with Bhongir MLA Uma Madhava Reddy at Lakkaram in Nalgonda district on Thursday.

HYDERABAD: Perturbed by the continuing desertions by senior leaders, Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu has reportedly decided to cut short his ongoing “Mee Kosam” yatra from 150 days as originally planned to 110 days.

Mr. Naidu is said to have conveyed this to district party presidents and general secretaries during a teleconference with them on Thursday. These leaders expressed their concern at the way seniors were leaving the party even while his “yatra” was having good impact on the cadre and the people.

Leaders’ advice

With enough goodwill generated by the “yatra”, they suggested that he return to Hyderabad and concentrate on strengthening the party and prepare it to face the challenge thrown by film star Chiranjeevi’s entry into politics.

A sense of insecurity was creeping into the party leaders and Mr. Naidu should aim at removing it. They also wanted him to mollify some seniors who, they said, were aggrieved.

Mr. Naidu agreed with them and gave an indication that he could call off his “yatra” on the 110th day when he would be in Anantapur, by holding a huge public rally there.

Nalgonda Staff Reporter adds:

The TD president said that the vote of any party member, who crossed the fence, should be declared invalid.

“What is the use of punishing them under the anti-defection law after six months? The moment they jumped into other party, their vote must be nullified,” he said.

Dubbing the developments in New Delhi during the trust vote as a ‘national shame,’ Mr. Naidu called upon people and intellectuals to teach the Congress a lesson for “earning a bad reputation” to the country.

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

Front Page