The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : TRS rebels to seek public opinion

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Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

TRS rebels to seek public opinion

To conduct district-wise, village-wise voting against leadership of K. Chandrasekhar Rao

KCR asked to apologise for attack on former MP by June 20
TRS leadership accused of diluting agitations of Telangana people

PHOTOs: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

Cornered: Former TRS Member of Parliament D. Ravindra Naik being manhandled by partymen in the Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad on Monday. (Right) Pro and anti-TRS men block the gates of the building as the party’s executive meet is in progress. —

HYDERABAD: A day after they were expelled from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) for ‘anti-party’ activities, the rebel TRS leaders decided to mobilise people’s support against the style of functioning of party president K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

The rebel leaders have decided to conduct district-wise, village-wise voting on whether Mr. Rao has the moral right to continue as TRS president in the light of the drubbing the party received in the recent elections. “We will mobilise people to boycott him,” rebel leader and former Minister A. Chandrasekhar said.

To challenge expulsion

Mr. Chandrasekhar told The Hindu that the rebels would first challenge the decision to expel them from the party which was undemocratic. A section of leaders in the party wanted an immediate meeting of the State committee to identify lapses that resulted in the party’s poor performance and rectify the mistakes. “All this was made to enhance the reputation of the leader,” he said.

But, Mr. Chandrasekhar said, the decision to take action against such leaders “exposed the true colours of Mr. Rao” and vindicated the claim that “he had lost credibility”.

“How can the party suspend or expel those who voice concern over allegations that money changed hands in allotment of tickets,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lambada Hakkula Porata Samithi demanded that Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao tender an unconditional apology for the ‘attack’ on party’s former MP Ravindra Naik at the Telangana Bhavan on Monday.

The Samithi described the incident as an “attack on tribes” and set June 20 deadline for Mr. Rao to tender his apology. Leaders and activists of the Samithi would lay siege to the TRS president’s house if he failed to apologise before the deadline.

At a press conference here, its president T. Bellaiah Naik criticised the TRS leadership for diluting agitations launched by the people of Telangana.

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