TDP does a U-turn, says it favours Telangana
The Telugu Desam Party on Thursday dumped its anti-Telangana stance and favoured the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The move is aimed at making the party appealing to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: Desperate to shore up its prospects, the Telugu Desam Party on Thursday dumped its anti-Telangana stance and favoured the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The move is aimed at making the party appealing to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
���In deference to the sentiments of the people of the region, the Telugu Desam supports the demand for a separate statehood to Telangana,��� the party politburo said in its one-page resolution. Announcing the decision at the party headquarters in Hyderabad, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu said Telangana was a ���historic necessity��� and ���our party has taken the right decision in this regard.���
The TDP, which was founded by the late N T Rama Rao in 1982 to safeguard ���Telugu pride��� and ���self respect,��� would continue to uphold these ideals and ���we shall re-dedicate ourselves to the Telugu people,��� Mr Naidu said. He claimed that the TDP���s adopted a pro-Telangana stand not for any political aims.
���We do not take certain decisions only for political gains. We go by the people���s wishes and respect them,��� Mr Naidu said. The TDP will do whatever required ���legally, constitutionally and politically��� for the creation of Telangana state, he added.
After Chiranjeevi rejected the proposal of an anti-Congress media tycoon for a grand alliance of Prajarajyam, TDP, TRS, Left and the BJP against the ruling party in the state, the TDP supremo has been trying to work out an alliance that can make a credible claim for power. He has been successful in roping in the CPM and the CPI.
The CPI was initially reluctant to join hands with TDP, but pressure from CPM prompted the party to align with Mr Chandrababu Naidu. The TRS, however, is yet to announce its political preference. The party, which is being wooed by the BJP, will now have to weigh the political benefits of an association with the TDP.
The only comforting news for the TDP chief in recent months has been the decision of the NTR family to aid Mr Naidu���s power project. At a meeting between Naidu and the four film stars in the NTR family on Sunday, they agreed to work together in the coming polls.
The meeting was attended by actor Balakrishna, his brother Harikrishna and his two film star sons NTR junior and Kalyan Ram. The three actors are likely to announce their formal entry into politics after Dussehra.
Mr Naidu decided to mend fences with members of the NTR clan after it became clear that Chiranjeevi���s Prajarajyam would be a bigger political threat to the TDP. Many important leaders of TDP have already joined Chiranjeevi���s party.
���In deference to the sentiments of the people of the region, the Telugu Desam supports the demand for a separate statehood to Telangana,��� the party politburo said in its one-page resolution. Announcing the decision at the party headquarters in Hyderabad, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu said Telangana was a ���historic necessity��� and ���our party has taken the right decision in this regard.���
The TDP, which was founded by the late N T Rama Rao in 1982 to safeguard ���Telugu pride��� and ���self respect,��� would continue to uphold these ideals and ���we shall re-dedicate ourselves to the Telugu people,��� Mr Naidu said. He claimed that the TDP���s adopted a pro-Telangana stand not for any political aims.
���We do not take certain decisions only for political gains. We go by the people���s wishes and respect them,��� Mr Naidu said. The TDP will do whatever required ���legally, constitutionally and politically��� for the creation of Telangana state, he added.
After Chiranjeevi rejected the proposal of an anti-Congress media tycoon for a grand alliance of Prajarajyam, TDP, TRS, Left and the BJP against the ruling party in the state, the TDP supremo has been trying to work out an alliance that can make a credible claim for power. He has been successful in roping in the CPM and the CPI.
The CPI was initially reluctant to join hands with TDP, but pressure from CPM prompted the party to align with Mr Chandrababu Naidu. The TRS, however, is yet to announce its political preference. The party, which is being wooed by the BJP, will now have to weigh the political benefits of an association with the TDP.
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The only comforting news for the TDP chief in recent months has been the decision of the NTR family to aid Mr Naidu���s power project. At a meeting between Naidu and the four film stars in the NTR family on Sunday, they agreed to work together in the coming polls.
The meeting was attended by actor Balakrishna, his brother Harikrishna and his two film star sons NTR junior and Kalyan Ram. The three actors are likely to announce their formal entry into politics after Dussehra.
Mr Naidu decided to mend fences with members of the NTR clan after it became clear that Chiranjeevi���s Prajarajyam would be a bigger political threat to the TDP. Many important leaders of TDP have already joined Chiranjeevi���s party.
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