Congress leaders from Telangana hit back at TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao for his diatribe against TPCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah.
A day after Mr. Rao accused the TPCC chief of encouraging poaching and creating an impression about impending flight of TRS candidates in support of the Congress, Mr. Lakshmaiah himself took on the former at a press conference here on Saturday.
Alleging that Mr. Rao was unable to digest his growing clout in the Congress party, Mr. Lakshmaiah said he could not stoop to the level of the TRS president and use derogatory or insulting language against fellow leaders.
Accusing KCR of talking in an arrogant manner, the TPCC president said the charge that he was acting as a broker aptly suited the latter, who was known to change his stand and decision at the drop of hat.
Mr. Lakshmaiah denied the charge that he had consulted TRS leaders or encouraged defection.
Stating that there was no need for him to give a clarification, the TPCC chief said there was no need for him to split the TRS. He said KCR was worried about his partymen, who may leave him any time.
TPCC chief spokesperson Dasoju Shravan and former Whip Anil, at another press conference, said KCR was perturbed at the talk of his candidates deserting him. This is the precise reason why he was now talking about extending support to the UPA, they said.
Mr. Shravan took serious exception to KCR’s remarks that Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy was not an untouchable. He sought to know about that secret understanding the two leaders had reached.
He wondered how the TRS chief could praise YSR Congress chief and express the wish to work together.
