Not long ago, Andhra Pradesh state information and public relations minister Kolusu Parthasarathy was caught in a controversy over sharing the dais with senior YSR Congress party leader and former minister Jogi Ramesh at the Gouthu Latchanna birth anniversary rally at Nuzvid in Eluru district.
Several TDP leaders, including Buddha Venkanna, lashed out at Parthasarathy and party general secretary Nara Lokesh sought an explanation from the minister.
Finally, he was forced to tender an open apology saying he was not aware of the arrival of Jogi Ramesh.
Yet, the local TDP leaders are not happy with Parthasarathy, who had defected from the YSRCP to the TDP just before the last elections.
They are accusing him of ignoring the TDP workers who have been loyal to the party for several years and encouraging the defectors from the YSRCP in the constituency.
On Monday, several TDP leaders in Narasimharao Palem village of Chatrai mandal in Eluru district resigned en masse from the party posts, supported by another 500 party workers, in protest against the attitude of Parthasarathy in ignoring them and promoting his own followers defected from the YSRCP.
“We have been associated with the TDP for the last 40 years without aspiring for any positions and working only for the development of our villages. Yet, the minister is not caring for us and giving positions to only to his followers,” they said in their letter to TDP state president Palla Srinivas Rao with a copy to Lokesh and party president N Chandrababu Naidu.
They alleged that Parthasarathy got their pattadar passbooks cancelled and issued to his own followers.
The workers accused Parthasarathy of granting key positions to defectors, particularly citing the appointment of Durga, a former YSRCP member, as the president of a cooperative society.
They lamented that despite their decades of loyalty, sacrifices, and efforts to secure a historic electoral majority for the minister, they were being ignored. The workers appealed the party bosses to address their grievances.
Their frustration highlights growing internal discord within the TDP and raises questions about the party’s handling of loyal cadres.
