TDP rebutts Goud's charges against party

Hyderabad, Jun 24 (UNI) Hitting back at Former Home Minister T Devender Goud, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today charged him with deserting the Core Committee on Telangana after it was formed ''at his behest.'' The party, which had all along been for united Andhra Pradesh, had also decided to take an ''appropriate decision at an appropriate time'' on the Telangana issue only at his instance, TDP Official Spokesman P Chandrasekar told a press conference here.

The statement of Mr Goud after quitting the party that he had no faith in the Core Committee amounted to insulting other committee members with whom he had a longstanding relationship, he added.

The party had given him ''maximum recognition,'' he said, referring to the TDP asking him to head the party committee to draft alternative economic policy.

Mr Goud was asked to lead on behalf of the party in joint stirs with the Left parties.

The party, which was formed by Actor-turned-politican N T Rama Rao for the uplift of the Backward Classes, had never considered politics as a ''mere number game'' as alleged by Mr Goud, he argued.

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