TDP cadres divided over entry of rivals into party fold

VISAKHAPATNAM: Local TDP workers are strongly resisting the proposed entry of senior leaders of other parties into the TDP fold. The district party leadership is now virtually divided over the entry of YSRCP leader Konatala Ramakrishna and former Congress legislator Gandi Babji into the Telugu Desam Party fold.
Many party leaders particularly in Pendurthy and Anakapalli Assembly constituencies do not want the party state leadership to welcome Ramakrishna and Babji.
Ramakrishna was expelled from YSRCP even though he had submitted his resignation much before the party’s decision. Babji was suspended from the party.
In the backdrop of strong resistance from the cadre, panchayat raj minister Ayyanna Patrudu and state HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao held a meeting in Hyderabad, raising many an eyebrow in the political circles here.
TDP sources said the ministers had arrived at a consensus on inviting Ramakrishna into the TDP fold. As per the agreement, Srinivasa Rao will not oppose Ramakrishna’s entry and Ayyanna Patrudu will not create hurdles for the entry of YSRCP leader Dadi Veerabhadra Rao.
Ayyanna has been supporting Ramakrishna, while Veerabahdra Rao is backed by Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
Incidentally, Veerabhadra Rao and Ramakrishna do not see eye to eye. Both hail from Anakapalli and belong to Gavara community. They represented TDP and Congress, respectively, and fought against each other in elections in the last three decades.
Meanwhile, Babji has many issues with the local TDP cadre. On such issue was when he aimed a pistol at a TDP leader Nargis during the by-election to the Visakha-I assembly constituency in 2005-06.
The incident became a sensation and even rocked the Assembly session.
TDP cadres, especially from Parawada and Pendurthy mandals, are opposed to Babji’s entry into TDP because they had been “harassed” by the leader during the Congress rule in the state.
“We are only party members. The decision will be taken by the party president,” said Ayyanna Patrudu.
“Leaders can adjust themselves for their selfish ends. But the cadre faces all the trouble at the grass root level. We are the victims of harassment by Congress leaders,” said a local TDP leader Jagadeesh.