Janardhan Reddy appeals TDP chief to espouse Telangana cause

Hyderabad, May 23: Dissident TDP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy on Sunday, May 22 appeared to be heading for a showdown over Telangana issue as he appealed party president N Chandrababu Naidu to convey the Centre about his support for the cause.

In a missive, Reddy demanded that the TDP chief send a letter expressing his support for the cause of Telangana to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

A letter from Naidu would enable the TDP cadres in Telangana region to face the people confidently in the wake of strong sentiment running in favour of the separate state there, Reddy claimed adding that the party had earlier backed carving out of Telangana in a letter sent to a cabinet sub-committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee.

TDP leaders had submitted region-wise separate letters to Justice Sri Krishna Committee over the vexed issue.

In his bid to corner TDP on the issue, TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao often attacked Naidu for not sending a letter to Centre announcing his support for creation of Telangana.

Janardhan Reddy almost fell out with TDP leadership as he organised public meetings, despite the reservations expressed by the top brass, in support of Telangana without displaying the party symbol or flag in the recent past.

He has also been at the loggerheads with other party leaders from Telangana who had charged him with pursuing his personal agenda in guise of the issue.

"If the Centre introduces a bill (for formation of Telangana) in Parliament, the stance of all parties would come out. You (Janardhan Reddy) are not making that demand. Is it fair to make comments that are insulting to the party. He appears to be trying to emerge as a Telangana champion rather than fighting for Telangana," TDP MLA Revant Reddy said.

PTI