Hyderabad: Telugu Desam party president, N Chandrababu Naidu said the state did not need new political parties but it needed commitment from parties to serve the people.
“New parties will serve no purpose for the people. It’s not the new parties, but commitment to serve the people. Telugu Desam has proved it can provide strong and stable government and it has the ability to develop the two regions,” Mr Naidu said, welcoming into the party fold former Congress MLA from Kovelakuntla Challa Ramakrishna Reddy.
The TDP supremo said Mr Ramakrishna Reddy’s entry would strengthen the party in Kurnool district, especially Banganapalle Assembly constituency. Mr Naidu invited all former Telugu Desam party leaders who had left the party for various reasons to return to the party and join his crusade to develop Telangana and Seemandhra. He said the Telugu Desam alone can ensure development of the Seemandhra region and ensure social justice in Telangana.
Mr Naidu criticised the YSR Congress, the other party that has been attracting Congress defectors for turning elections into a business. Returning the compliment, Mr Ramakrishna Reddy described Mr Naidu as a man with “wisdom, dedication and a visionary leader.”
He said Mr Naidu played a key role at the Centre during NDA rule and called the shots and was instrumental in the making of two Prime Ministers. Two other prominent leaders from Kurnool district, Shilpa Mohan Reddy and former Nandikotkur MLA L. Venkatswamy also joined the TD with their supporters in the presence of Mr Naidu. In Guntur, former minister and senior Congress leader Makineni Pedarathaiah met Mr Naidu and TD leader D. Narendra and decided to cross over. Party sources said Mr Pedarathaiah will join the party in the presence of Mr Naidu at Rythu Garjana meeting to be held in Guntur on March 16.
