Naidu sees ''ulterior political motive'' behind resignation

Hyderabad, Jun 23 (UNI) Unfazed by the resignations by Telugu Desam Legislature Party leader T Devender Goud and another former Minister E Peddi Reddy, Party Chief N Chandrababu Naidu today saw an ''ulterior political motive behind their decision''.

Talking to mediapersons at Patapatnam in Srikakulam district, Mr Naidu, who was in the midst of his 150-day ''Meekosam Yatra'', said there was no scope for any patch up with Mr Goud.

Terming as ''hasty'' the resignation of Mr Goud, his long time party colleague, Mr Naidu said the party was striving to evolve a consensus on the vexed Telengana statehood issue by involing all conerned. He reiterated that the TDP was not against the demand.

The party was in the process of taking divergent view points on the issue by forming a five-member committee. It was unfortunate that Mr Goud, who had been part of the decision-making process in the party for long, chose to quit.

The swift political development posed a major challenge to the regional party which is striving to stage a comeback after the severe drubbing in the 2004 elections.

UNI SM VV AKJ HT1918