Former TD minister revolts, Naidu warns of stern action

VIJAYAWADA: Former minister and senior Telugu Desam leader Prathipati Pulla Rao has openly revolted against the party leadership, following TD chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s decision to admit into TD Bhashyam Praveen, owner of famous private educational institutions, who is trying to get the TD ticket from Chilakaluripeta to contest the forthcoming assembly elections.

Chilakaluripeta is the home constituency of Pulla Rao. He has become angry with the party leadership, saying it is encouraging “migrant” leaders into the party. The former minister pointed out that Praveen is an outsider to Chilakaluripeta and has no connection to the town.

Pulla Rao maintained that such leaders have no capability to win elections with public support. They will only harm the interests of the party, as real leaders who have the capacity and calibre get undermined by such people.

In this context, he pointed to the severe injustice to Kodela Sivaram and sought justice for the Kodela family in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

On Saturday, Chandrababu Naidu reportedly conducted a teleconference with party leaders in which several TD leaders raised the issue of Pulla Rao’s revolt.

Responding to it, the TD chief warned that strict action will be taken against those who criticise the party's decisions and publicly make comments against it in the media.

Chandrababu Naidu made it clear that any violation of party discipline by leaders of any level will not be tolerated.