Hyderabad: Senior Telugu Desam leader Tummala Nageswara Rao, who joined the TRS on Friday, asked the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government to de-merge seven mandals in Khammam district, which were merged against the wishes of the people.
“About 2.7 lakh people of seven mandals, which have been forcibly merged with Andhra Pradesh, want to stay in Telangana state. The Centre and AP government should rethink or face their displeasure,” he said.
Mr Nageswara Rao, who joined the TRS in the presence of Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, said Khammam people had no objection to the AP government utilising Godavari waters or construction of the Polavaram project, but were against forcible merger of seven mandals.
“Before the Appointed Date, the seven mandals were merged through an ordinance, which has hurt the people of Khammam district. People were hurt by the behaviour of the Centre and AP government,” he added.
Heaping praise on the CM for leading the Telangana movement and achieving statehood without bloodshed, Mr Nageswara Rao said he and the CM played a key role in the growth of Telugu Desam.
Seeking the government’s support for making Khammam the number one district in the state, he concluded his address saying “Jai Hind, Jai Janma Bhoomi.”
TD MLC Balasani Laxminarayana said they were forced to quit Telugu Desam due to unilateral decisions of AP Chief Minister and Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu.
“Our self respect was at stake. Mr Naidu has been taking unilateral decisions and ignoring senior party leaders of the district like Mr Nageswara Rao. We had no option but to quit the party and join the TRS,” he added.
