By IANS,
Hyderabad : The political party Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi has proposed to launch next month has triggered a storm in the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), with one more senior leader walking out of it Sunday.
Former state minister Khaleel Basha announced his resignation from the TDP to join Chiranjeevi’s proposed party. He was the general secretary of the TDP in Kadpa district, from where Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy hails.
Basha resigned a day after former MP Bhuma Nagi Reddy and his wife and party general secretary Shoba Nagi Reddy quit the TDP. The couple, both powerful leaders in Kurnool district, plans to join the actor’s outfit.
Adding to the woes of the TDP, another senior leader and former MP C. Ramchandraiah hinted that he too might quit the party in a day or two. He told reporters here Sunday that he had ideological differences with party president N. Chandrababu Naidu. He said he would decide his future course of action in a day or two after consulting his supporters.
“I will go to my district (Kadpa) and consult my followers on what would be the right course in the changing situation,” said Ramchandraiah.
“I have no personal differences with Naidu. However, there are ideological differences on some issues,” said the former Rajya Sabha member. He felt that the party was not doing much for the backward classes.
To a query, Ramchandraiah said he had not received invitation from Chrianjeevi but added that any decision would be taken after consulting his followers.
Bhuma and Shoba Nagi Reddy’s resignations were a big jolt to the TDP and came close on the heels of the resignation of second-in-command and former minister T. Devender Goud, who has announced plans to launch a new party to fight for separate statehood to Telangana region.
Earlier, another senior leader and former minister K. Vidyadhar Rao was expelled from the TDP for holding a meeting of Chiranjeevi’s close aides.
Meanwhile, Naidu denied Bhuma Nagi Reddy’s allegations that party was neglecting sincere workers, and said leaders interested in posts were leaving the party.
“The TDP gave a lot to Nagi Reddy family. I made him MP and his wife an MLA. If you want to leave the party, you may go but it is not proper to level allegations,” said Naidu.