Tirupati: The Telugu Desam has asked the Bharatiya Janata Party, its alliance partner, to give two Governor posts and nominated posts in lieu of the Rajya Sabha seat proposed to be given to Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
According to TD sources, talks are on regarding the same. While it is almost confirmed that TD has consented to give the Rajya Sabha seat to Ms Sitharaman, it requested the BJP to give its party leaders two governor posts.
“We have asked for two governors and some key nominated posts at the Centre. We are not linking it directly to Rajya Sabha seat but we are requesting the BJP to reciprocate. Ultimately, if the BJP gives one Governor’s post we will be more than happy,” a TD source said. The TD had earlier promised a Governor post to dalit leader Motkupalli Narsimhulu from Telangana, and the same has been pending with the BJP.
Mr Narsimhulu recently requested party president and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to give him a Rajya Sabha seat as he was not given the promised Governor’s post. The same was rejected by Telugu Desam leadership, which said that the apart from Union minister Sujana Chowdary and the seat promised to the BJP, the third would be given to a person from the backward class from AP, leaving no seat for anyone else. On Saturday at the Mahanadu, Mr Narsimhlu cautioned the party that he was against handing over the party to an upper caste leader instead of someone from the SC or BC community in Telangana.
