Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is said to be in a dilemma over the disciplinary action to be taken against controversial party MLA from Tiruvuru assembly constituency Kolikapudi Srinivasa Rao.
The disciplinary committee of the TDP on Saturday submitted its report on the dispute between Kolikapudi and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Chinni to Naidu, stating that the MLA has violated the party discipline and made wild allegations against the MP without any proof.
The committee, comprising Konakalla Narayana, Varla Ramaiah, and Panchumarthi Anuradha, had earlier spoken separately to both leaders and recorded their explanations before preparing a detailed report based on their statements and local political circumstances.
According to sources, the report found that Kolikapudi had failed to maintain unity among the party cadre in Tiruvuru, which led to internal disputes.
The committee is understood to have concluded that Kolikapudi’s public criticism of Kesineni Chinni—particularly the accusation that Chinni had demanded Rs 5 crore for the Tiruvuru ticket—was baseless and constituted a breach of party ethics.
The committee noted that Kolikapudi failed to produce any evidence to substantiate his allegations.
He reportedly presented only TV clips stored on a pen drive as his “proof.” Members described his conduct as “irresponsible” and suggested stringent disciplinary action.
While the disciplinary committee suggested strong action for irresponsible behaviour, Naidu is learnt to be hesitant in taking strict action against Kolikapudi by sacking him from the party.
Though he is of the view that such an action would send a strong message to the other party leaders who cross the lines, he is also under the impression that it would destabilise the party ranks in Krishna district, as Kolikapudi will not keep quiet and might start a negative campaign against the party.
There is a talk that Naidu might let the MLA off with a strict warning or clip his wings in the constituency, by encouraging alternative leadership in the constituency.
“By curtailing his powers and instructing officials not to entertain the MLA’s recommendations, Naidu will virtually fog him out of the party. If Kolikapudi himself quits the party, it will minimise the damage to the party,” sources said.
After reviewing the findings, Chandrababu Naidu is said to have discussed the matter with committee members and assured them he would speak directly to both the MLA and MP before deciding on action.
