Naidu seeks report on protocol controversy at PADA meeting

Vijayawada: Taking a serious view of the protocol controversy during the Pithapuram Area Development Authority (PADA) meeting, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has warned party leaders not to cross the line and to work in coordination with the alliance partners. He discussed the issue with state TDP president Palla Srinivasa Rao and sought a detailed report on what transpired at the meeting. He also made it clear that clashes among TDP leaders in the name of protocol, particularly over prominence of photographs on flex banners, were not acceptable.The controversy occurred when former MLA SVSN Varma raised objections over not having the photograph of chief minister Naidu during the PADA meeting. Naidu was critical of the manner in which the former MLA conducted himself during the meeting, saying that party leaders are expected to act as role models for the public. Any issues or grievances should be brought to the notice of party leadership, he said, adding that direct confrontations were not the right approach as disputes in public view send wrong signals to the party cadre.Naidu directed Srinivasa Rao to advise Varma appropriately and ensure that such incidents are not repeated. He underlined the need for maintaining internal discipline within the party, stating that leaders should not compete for personal importance.Meanwhile, Koneti Adimoolam, the MLA of Satyavedu assembly constituency in Tirupati district who was suspended from the TDP in Sept after a woman leader of the party accused him of sexual assault, alleged that govt officials were according protocol formalities to TDP programme committee coordinator Shankar Reddy and not according him the requisite protocol honours. "When I am the legislator of this constituency, how can officials accord protocol honours to a party coordinator? I have complained to the assembly speaker, who has sought an explanation from the district collector," Adimoolam added.