Telangana: All-party meet puts TD in a fix

C R Gowri Shanker Hyderabad: Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu is caught on a sticky T-wicket again. The Union home ministry’s letter seeking opinion of political parties including TD on various post bifurcation issues and its plan to convene an all-party meeting soon has put him in a spot. Naidu, who is on tour of rain-hit areas, questioned the need for an all-party meet after taking a decision to bifurcate the state without addressing issues. Naidu said he would discuss the issue at the party forum whether to respond to the Centre’s letter and attend the all-party meet. Senior party leaders Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu, B. Gopalakrishna Reddy and Linga Reddy questioned the Centre’s moves, terming it as a useless exercise. Attending the all-party meet would commit the party to bifurcation of the state and could antagonise Seemandhra people, it was felt. Although Naidu had supported Telanga-na, he has been questioning the manner in which the Congress high command decided to bifurcate the state without addressing issues in Seemandhra region. Naidu is trying hard to save the party in Seemandhra region and regain lost ground after supporting Telangana. “Since the reply to the letter and all-party meeting is on post bifurcation issues, we will have to think seriously whether to reply, attend the meet or boycott it,” a TD leader from Andhra said. “The Centre should have held a meeting with stakeholders like farmers, students, employees, artisans, businessmen, social activists and others,” said Mr Muddukrishnama Naidu. TD politburo member, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the party would take a decision soon.