Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is not willing to take the views of his party leaders in Kurnool district while inviting former Union minister Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy and his family into the TDP.
Especially, it was expected that Naidu would take the opinion of his deputy chief minister K E Krishna Murthy before taking Kotla and his family into the party, for the simple reason that there has been a traditional rivalry between KE and Kotla families since the days of former chief minister late Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy.
Naturally, any importance to Kotla will upset KE as there will not be any cooperation between the two groups in the district, unless Naidu respects both the sides and brings about a compromise between the two, doing justice to both the families.
On Wednesday, KE came to the chief minister’s chamber in the assembly which began its last budget session.
The deputy chief minister spent close to half an hour with Naidu but the latter did not raise the topic of Kotla’s entry into the TDP. KE expected that Naidu would seek his opinion, but it did not happen.
So, a visibly upset KE told media that he had met Naidu to discuss the constitution of Srisailam Devasthanam Trust Board and the topic of Kotla’s entry into the TDP did not come up for discussion at all.
“He didn’t raise the topic and I did not ask about it. How can I express views when the party president did not even seek them?” he asked. He also feigned ignorance about Kotla’s conditions for joining the TDP.
However, it is learnt Naidu reportedly turned down Kotla’s demand to allot party ticket to his son Raghavendra Reddy. He reportedly promised to accommodate him in a nominated post.
Kotla and his family are likely to join TDP on February 1 or 2.
