Journalist-turned-political leader Chintapandu Naveen Kumar alias Teenmaar Mallanna, who gave the Telangana Rashtra Samithi a virtual run for its money in the recently concluded elections to the MLC seat from Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda graduates’ constituency, has made contradictory statements about his political plans.
He said he would not float any regional party nor would he join any existing political party. At the same time, he admitted that he had received offers from Bharatiya Janata Party but said he won’t accept the offer.
He declared that he would remain an independent in his fight against the TRS.
But Mallanna sprang a surprise when he spoke in a completely positive tone in favour of the new regional party to be floated by Y S Sharmila, daughter of former chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy.
In a media interview. Mallanna said there was nothing wrong in Sharmila floating a new party in Telangana and it was not correct to bring in regional feeling for her attempts.
He even predicted that Sharmila’s party has bright chances of winning good number of seats.
He said Sharmila had a lot of craze among the people, as she had already toured the state in the past.
“She took up a prolonged padayatra when her brother was in jail and mingled with the people. She is prepared to do hard work and there is no comparison between her party and other regional parties,” he said.
Hoping that Sharmila’s new party would penetrate deep into the people, Mallanna clarified that he would not join her party. But he said he was ready to work with her, if he got the call from her party.
He predicted that late YSR’s image would definitely fetch good results to Sharmila.
“It is undeniable fact that YSR commanded a lot of respect and affection among the people of Telangana. There might be corruption in his rule, but there was definitely a lot of development in his regime,” he said.
Mallanna said it remained to be seen to what extent Sharmila would own up YSR’s image and convert it into votes. It all depends on how much hard work she would put in, he said.
He ridiculed the attempts of the TRS to kick up Telangana sentiment to counter Sharmila
“There is no Andhra-Telangana divide in police. Anybody can contest from anywhere in India. When KCR can aspire to play a role in national politics, why can’t Sharmila in Telangana?” he asked.
