N Chandrababu Naidu helps rival factions bury hatchet, work for Telugu Desam

ANANTAPUR: Compromise deals are being worked out by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to ensure cohabitation of rival factions in the party, as ruling Telugu Desam is drawing in leaders from the Opposition YSRC.

Three Assembly constituencies in Kurnool district — Nandyal, Allagadda and Srisailam — would see leaders of rival groups working together. Despite the attack on TD district unit legal cell president Tulasi Reddy, who was a close aide of former minister Silpa Mohan Reddy, both Silpa Mohan Reddy and Nandyal MLA Bhuma Nagi Reddy, who was allegedly behind the attack, would bury their hatchet following intervention by the CM. Mr Naidu asked both the groups to work in tandem for the party and keep their decades-long differences aside.

Tulasi Reddy was waylaid and attacked a month ago in Nandyal, which had aggravated the differences between the rival groups. Silpa Mohan Reddy had blamed Bhuma Nagi Reddy for the attack. The issue was discussed threadbare in a meeting the CM held with other party leaders on Monday.

Bhuma Nagi Reddy’s daughter Akhila Priya is the MLA from Allagadda while their rivals, the Gangula group, seemed having no option other than to continue with the TD on assurances of backing from the Chief Minister. Similarly, TD district unit president Silpa Chakrapani Reddy had to compromise with Srisailam MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy, who was YSRC district unit leader but defected to the TD a few days ago.

Many cases pertaining to faction and political rivalry were on against both groups in all the three Assembly constituencies in Kurnool district. A political analyst noted that normally faction rivals never mingled together. As against the tradition of leaving the party, the leaders even at in-charge level had to compromise with the faction rivals.

Mr Naidu also effected a compromise between arch-rivals, former minister P. Rama Subba Reddy and MLA C. Adinarayana Reddy of Jammalamadugu, Kadapa district.