The mass exodus of leaders from the Congress and other parties to the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) fold will turn out to be dead weight and the cycle (TDP’s poll symbol) will collapse under their weight, APCC publicity committee chairman Mr. K. Chiranjeevi has said.
Speaking to the media at a “meet-the-press” programme organised by the Press Club here on Monday, Mr. Chiranjeevi, along with PCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy, said: “Mr. Naidu is in for a lot of trouble as all these leaders (Congress defectors) will start fighting for tickets and posts. He is collecting old and selfish leaders from the Congress.”
Referring to his brother and founder of the Jana Sena Party, Pawan Kalyan, Mr, Chiranjeevi said, “Entering into politics and his (Pawan) alignment with the anti-Congress parties is justifiable, if he is intending to do service to the people.”
“There is nothing wrong in new people and parties coming into politics just before polls. It means more political parties and people in fray,” he said while answering to a query about his brother’s new party and anti-Congress stand.
Asked why many elected as erstwhile PR MLAs were going out of the Congress, he said that they must be yielding to local pressures from their followers and well-wishers. Speaking about Vijayawada East MLA Yalamanchilli Ravi, Mr. Chiranjeevi said that there was a communication gap. “I would have taken interest if Mr. Ravi had approached me in advance. Nothing can be done now as everything is over,” he said.
Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said that the Congress Party will be voted to power in Telangana and it should also be elected to power in residuary Andhra Pradesh for it to be developed.