Apparently realising that the Telugu Desam Party is fast losing its ground in Rayalaseema on account of growing influence of the YSR Congress party and also internal squabbles within the TDP, party president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has begun the damaging control exercise.
Naidu, who held a teleconference with the TDP leaders in Kadapa on Tuesday, gave them a dressing down for causing irreparable damage to the party because of their group fights.
“I have given all of you a long rope. Don’t expect that you would get away with whatever you do just because I am being lenient to you. I don’t mind getting rid of troublesome leaders to revive the party, even if the party suffers a bit because of their exit,” he said.
Naidu asked the TDP leaders from Kadapa to come out with a concrete plan of action to win the maximum seats in the district.
“From the government side, I will do my best to get maximum benefits to the district, including completion of Galeru-Nagari project. From the party side, you should take up programmes to enhance the party image,” he said.
TDP’s Rajya Sabha member C M Ramesh reportedly proposed that he would take up indefinite fast in Kadapa demanding sanction of Kadapa Steel Plant by the Centre. The steel plant is one of the major promises made by the Centre under AP Reorganisation Act.
“We shall take up a big movement in the district for Kadapa steel plant. Give me permission to take up fast unto death,” Ramesh asked Naidu and the latter gave his nod.
Needless to say, Ramesh wanted to please the chief minister in the wake of latest allegations by his rival in Proddaturu N Varadarajulu Reddy that he was hand in glove with YSRC president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
