Rifts surface in Vijayawada TDP again!

The simmering discontent in the Telugu Desam Party’s Vijayawada unit came to the fore once again with party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu entrusting the party responsibilities in Vijaywada (West) assembly constituency to parliament member Kesineni Nani.

Kesineni’s rival group led by former MLC Buddha Venkanna raised strong protests over the party high command’s decision. Several party leaders who met the residence of Venkanna raised slogans against Kesineni.

They demanded that the Vijayawada (West) in-charge post should not be given to Kesineni, but to any leader from SC, ST, BC or minority sections. They pointed out that senior leaders Buddha Venkanna and Nagul Meera had strived hard to strengthen the TDP in the constituency.

The Venkanna group alleged that it was because of Kesineni’s dictatorial attitude that the TDP had lost the Vijayawada municipal corporation elections. They reminded that Kesineni had not made a single statement when the YSRC leaders and cadres attacked the house of Naidu and the ministers abused him.

“It was Buddha Venkanna and Nagul Meera who had stalled YSRCP MLA Jogi Ramesh when the latter attacked Naidu’s residence. They have been strongly backing the leaders and cadres in the constituency and they deserved the post,” the rival group said.

They warned that not a single TDP worker in Vijayawada West constituency would cooperate with Kesineni and demanded that Naidu cancelled his post.

The rivalry between Buddha Venkanna group and Kesineni had been going on since the days of Vijayawada municipal corporation elections. Both the groups openly made statements against each other, much to the consternation of Naidu.

The supporters of Buddha Venkanna held protests wherever Kesineni visited as part of his electioneering for his daughter Swetha in the corporation elections.

At one stage, Kesineni even thought of walking out of the TDP and served a virtual ultimatum to Naidu. However, the issue subsided following the intervention of Naidu. It remains to be seen if the TDP president intervenes again and resolve the crisis.