Naidu’s choices for RS sparks rebellion in TD
Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu is facing a revolt from his party's politburo after he named C.M. Ramesh and Devender Goud as the party's Rajya Sabha nominees. According to sources, some of the leaders even threatened to go on hunger strikes. Mr Naidu, during a meeting late on Sunday evening, informed the politburo that he has decided to send the two leaders to the RS, under “special circumstances”.
“What's the use of informing us now, after you took the decision? You should have discussed with us and then announce the names,” several leaders told Mr Naidu. Mr Naidu told them that Mr Ramesh, the party vice-president, had been helping him in party affairs and further argued that running a contract firm did not make him ineligible. He added that Mr Ramesh had never been given tickets in any elections in the past.
About choosing Mr Goud for the second seat, Mr Naidu reportedly justified the decision by saying that his past services, his seniority and the changed political situation at the Centre, which warrants a powerful leader to articulate the party's views were taken into consideration. Politburo member and TD veteran K.E. Krishnamurthy openly criticised Mr Naidu and said, “If this is the trend, I don’t know whether the party will remain till the 2014 elections.”
Opposing the Mr Goud's selection, former minister Talasani Yadav said, “It is very sad that those highly critical of Mr Naidu and who had left the party are being rewarded.” Mr Goud's nephew Aravind Kumar in fact announced a hunger strike. “I had been specifically asked to attack him when he had left the TD and started a new party. This makes me a sacrificial goat,” he said. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Mr Naidu might rethink on the selections replacing at least one candidate.
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