Ayyanna Patrudu explains stand

Hyderabad, Feb 5 (UNI) Former Andhra Pradesh Minister and TDP leader Ayyanna Patrudu, who had submitted his resignation as party General Secretary after allegedly being ''insulted'' during the selection of candidates for the election to the Greater Visakhapatnam municipal corporation, today offered his explanations before a three-member Committee on the issue.

The Committee, headed by senior TDP leader and former Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, heard Mr Patrudu who had alleged irregularities in the selection of party candidates for elections and wanted him to sink the differences and work for the party's victory in the elections, Mr Ramakrishnudu told UNI.

As Mr Patrudu, who had been in the party since its launch by actor-turned politician N T Rama Rao in 1982, raised the issue of the alleged weakening of the party by party legislator G Srinivasa Rao and allotment of ticket to 'ineligible' candidates, the Committee informed him that it would hold a detailed inquiry after the elections.

While Mr Ramakrishnudu said Mr Patrudu still continued as General Secretary as party president N Chandrababu Naidu had not taken any decision so far on the issue, Mr Patrudu, a Backward class leader, told UNI that he would not take back his resignation.

However, he said he would continue to work for the party as he had been doing since it was formed.

Explaining the circumstances under which he was forced to speak on the issue to the Press, Mr Patrudu, even while acknowledging his reported statements clarified to the Committee that he had not held any press conference on his own.

UNI