Even as Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu continued to hold consultations with the party leaders on his proposal to write a letter to the Centre on Telangana, at least half-a-dozen party MLAs from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions have reportedly threatened to quit against the move.
Having got wind of the MLAs’ move, Mr. Naidu is believed to be on a fire fighting mode, calling each one of them and convincing them against taking a hasty action.
There was nothing to worry as the party was only reiterating its stand on Telangana and that the onus was on the Centre to take the final call.
There would be no impact on the party as was being feared by them, he reportedly told them.
Party sources said Mr. Naidu appeared determined on giving the letter despite stiff resistance from the party legislators and leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
The debate now was on timing -- whether it should be sent before the monsoon session of the Assembly or after it.
Risky
Even on Tuesday, leaders from the two regions -- Gorantla Butchaiah Choudary, Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu, Prathipati Pulla Rao and Payyavula Keshav -- reportedly tried hard to prevail over Mr. Naidu to rethink his decision saying it would have adverse impact on the party’s fortunes in the two regions. It was risky coming at a time when the party was facing several challenges.
They questioned the prudence of despatching such a letter when nobody was demanding it and when the Centre too was cool to the pressure being built by the Telangana Congress leaders and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti.
The meeting with Mr. Naidu was not as smooth as was expected. But interacting with the media after meeting Mr. Naidu at his Jubilee Hills residence, Mr. Keshav said they had merely expressed their concerns on behalf of the people of the two regions. The overwhelming view of the people in these regions was that of united Andhra Pradesh. It was for Mr. Naidu to have the last word in the matter.
