Former TDP Minister joins BJP

Hyderabad, Apr 28 (UNI) Former Andhra Pradesh Minister D Satyanarayana today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

BJP Andhra Pradesh President Bandaru Datattreya and other office-bearers welcomed Mr Satyanarayana, who had been a minister in the erstwhile TDP government led by actor-turned-politician N T Rama Rao, into the partyfold along with his followers from Nizamabad.

''Separate statehood for Telangana could not be achieved by a regional party like Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) which is in the grip of dissidence. Only the BJP has the strength to achieve statehood for Telangana,'' Mr Satyanarayana said.

Asking the ruling Congress to make up its mind well before the next Assembly election, Mr Dattatreya said statehood for Telangana should not become a poll issue once again in 2009.

Former Union Minister Ch Vidyasagar Rao took strong objection to TRS President K Chandrasekara Rao's appeal to the people of Telangana to wait for statehood till the next elections.

''The TRS, which could not achieve Telangana when in power, will not be in a position to achieve it even after the 2009 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,'' he said.

The BJP would hold conferences, Padayatras and cycle yatras in all the villages in Telangana during May first week to give a thrust to the movement for Telangana, Mr Dattatreya said, adding the party would call on President A P J Abdul Kalam in the second week of May to press for their demand.

UNI