Former minister and senior MLA from Nagarkurnool Nagam Janardhan Reddy has finally ruled out returning to the fold of Telugu Desam Party, despite the fact that the latter has declared its stand in favour of separate Telangana state.

Reacting strongly to the criticism of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi that he was acting as a covert for TDP, Nagam said he was waging the battle for Telangana independently and there was no need for him to act as a covert for any party. “And I am asserting that I will continue to fight single-handedly for Telangana. There is no question of joining the TDP at any cost,” he said.

The former minister refuted the charge that he would have lost the by-elections in Nagarkurnool had the TRS not supported him. “In fact, the local TRS leaders were sold out to the Congress party. And the TRS had not shown any favour by not contesting the by-elections. It was only under pressure from the TRS and the Telangana Joint Action Committee that I had quit the assembly seat and contested again.  How can the TRS field its candidate then? In fact, I campaigned in favour of the TRS in Parkal, Kollapur and Mahbubnagar by-elections,” he reminded.