Ayyanna Patrudu resigns

Vishakhapatnam, Feb 5 (UNI) In a major jolt to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on the eve of the municipal election, former Andhra Pradesh minister Ayyanna Patrudu today resigned his post of General Secretary of the TDP protesting against alleged insult heaped on him during the selection of candidates for the election to the Greater Visakhapatnam municipal corporation.

The party politbureau, the highest decision making body, yesterday had asked the three-member committee to enquire into the charges by Mr Ayyanna Patrudu of alleged irregularities in the selection of party candidates for the muncipal corporation at Visakhapatnam.

Mr Patrudu who has been the member since TDP founder N T Rama Rao launched the party in 1982, was apparently piqued at being 'belittled' by the party by asking him to face a disciplinary inquiry committee headed by a colleague who was junior to him.

Mr Patrudu faxed his resignation to the party President and also left Visakhapatnam this evening to face the inquiry in Hyderabad tomorrow.

Mr Patrudu, a senior member of the backward classes, had charged the party's top leadership with bypassing senior and Genuine party workers and nominating candidates on ''considerations other than merit''.

UNI