Senior MLA from Nandyal Bhuma Nagi Reddy, who had recently defected from YSR Congress party into the Telugu Desam Party along with his daughter Akhila, seems to be feeling suffocated in the ruling party.
The TDP leaders and cadre in Kurnool district have apparently not accepted the entry of Bhuma into the party wholeheartedly as they were apprehensive that it might lead to revival of faction politics in the district.
As if endorsing their fears, a TDP activist and sarpanch of Kothapalli village Tulasi Reddy was attacked with daggers in the early hours of Tuesday. As his condition was critical, he was shifted to Hyderabad.
The victim happens to be the close follower of former minister Shilpa Mohan Reddy, who had also defected from the Congress to the TDP in the past.
Shilpa alleged that Bhuma Nagi Reddy was behind the attack on Tulasi Reddy, as they had a political rivalry. He met party president N Chandrababu Naidu and general secretary Lokesh and lodged a complaint against Bhuma.
He said he had already warned against admitting Bhuma into the TDP, as he would disturb a peaceful atmosphere in the party.
On his part, Bhuma said he had nothing do with attack on Tulasi Reddy.
“Some leaders are not able to digest my entry into the party and trying to create a rift between me and Naidu. But I don’t have any grudge against anyone. I am not going to meet Naidu to give an explanation. Let the facts come out during the course of investigation,” he said.
