The Hindu : Standoff between Naidu, brother intensifies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Standoff between Naidu, brother intensifies

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI Dec. 1. The standoff between the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and his younger brother and former MLA, Nara Ramamurthy Naidu, seems to have reached a point of no return with the party cadres in their Chandragiri constituency getting vertically divided between the brothers.

The row between the Nara brothers which has all along remained as a case of shadow-boxing has now come to the open and the battle lines between the two seem to have been drawn with Mr. Ramamurthy Naidu's ourburst yesterday against his brother, much to his embarrassment and to the delight of his detractors. Whatever possibility was still there for a rapprochement between the two appears to have disappeared with Mr. Ramamurthy's rhetoric yesterday against his brother and the latter's stern warning yesterday to the `Ramamurthy enthusiasts' to behave or face disciplinary proceedings.

The very fact that the brothers in their month-long skirmishes had made things to come to this pass seem to be indicating that both of them are prepared for any eventuality. While an uncompromising Mr. Chandrababu Naidu seems to be ready even to lose the Chandragiri seat, but not yield to the pressure tactics of Mr. Ramamurthy Naidu and his supporters, the equally adamant younger brother of the Chief Minister, by his open confrontation, seems to have taken a calculated risk to even face expulsion, but not yield.

It is against this background that the TDP's rank and file in Chandragiri constituency is vertically divided and because of the fluid situation the membership enrolment campaign, which is nearing completion in the rest of the State, is a non-starter in this constituency much to the discomfiture of the Chief Minister. Latest reports from Hyderabad, in the aftermath of Mr. Ramamurthy's diatribe against the Chief Minister indicated that he has sent the District Minister, B. Gopalakrishna Reddy, to start the enrolment campaign in the constituency `at any cost' tomorrow and rein in the defiant cadres.

The Minister who has already reached there is expected to start the campaign from Kanipakkam, the famous Vinayaka temple town. The followers of Mr. Ramamurthy Naidu are said to be, in the meantime, working out their strategy to counter the campaign.

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Standoff between Naidu, brother intensifies