Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu has displayed his contempt for ethical politics and anti-corruption movements by commenting that noted social activist Anna Hazare had committed a blunder by lending support to the formation of a political party.

Naidu commented at a meeting in Kuppam on Sunday that political parties like that of Anna would only help split the opposition vote bank. He reminded that Lok Satta leader Dr Jayaprakash Narayan had split the TDP vote earlier by forming a party before 2009 elections.

Reacting sharply to this criticism, Lok Satta working president V V S Varma said Naidu’s statement had only displayed his cheap politics. Nothing could be more shameful than claiming that he, his family members and their descendants alone should have monopoly over politics and that Annas and JPs had no right of entry into politics.

“He is indulging in cheap comments because of his inability to compete with good politics and attract people with better politics. Such remarks would further hurt his credibility, far from rescuing his sinking TDP ship,” Varma said.

He said there would have been no need for Annas and JPs entering politics had traditional parties and their leaders discharged their role.

“Had Chandrababu been really interested in ethical politics, he would have welcomed the initiatives of Anna and JP and offered to align with them in elections on the basis of an agenda for good governance. Naidu lacks such wisdom,” he said.