AP House witnesses heated exchanges over 'dynastic politics'

Hyderabad, Apr 1 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Assembly today witnessed heated exchanges between ruling and treasury benches after TDP Legislature Party Deputy Leader T Devender Goud charged the ruling Congress with ''nepotism'' and ''encouraging dynastic politics'' during the debate on the no-confidence motion against the Rajasekhara Reddy government in the state.

While the ruling Congress showered encomiums on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the TDP claimed that Ms Gandhi had not made ''any great sacrifice'' by turning down the Prime Ministership after the last Lok Sabha elections.

Intervening, Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao described Ms Gandhi as a ''symbol of sacrifice'' as she made noted economist Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister despite requests made by several leaders, including CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu, to head the coalition government after leading the Congress to victory in the elections.

Retorting to this, former Assembly Speaker Y Ramakrishnudu claimed that Ms Gandhi had met the then President A P J Abdul Kalam with a letter of support of MPs and withdrew from the race for Prime Ministership after Dr Kalam raised several ''issues'' to her.

When Housing Minister B Satyanarayana alleged that TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu had ''usurped'' power from his father-in law and former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao, Mr Ramakrishnudu maintained that Mr Naidu was in politics since 1978 and came to power only with the support of majority MLAs.

It was the ruling Congress, which appointed an ''inexperienced'' Rahul Gandhi as the AICC General Secretary and now senior Congress leaders were ''vying with each other to win his favour,'' Mr Ramakrishnudu alleged.

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