Vijayawada: LTD leaders have expressed their discontent at being dropped from, or not being included in, the cabinet in the recent reshuffle.
Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy, who was dropped from the Cabinet, submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker and the Chief Minister on Sunday. Mr Chintamaneni Prabhakar submitted his resignation to the Assembly Secretary.
He later met the Chief Minister and explained the reasons that led to his resignation. The Chief Minister, it is learnt, urged Mr Prabhakar not to make a hasty decision. Mr Prabhakar said he felt neglected though he had served the party sincerely.
Mr Dhulipalla Narendra, Mr Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao and Mr Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary had prepared themselves to submit their resignations.
Senior leaders Gowthu Shyam Sundar Sivaji, Patiwada Narayana Swamy, Ban-daru Satyanarayana Murthy, Tota Trimurthulu and many others are upset at not being considered for the Cabinet. Mr Naidu was trying to appease these leaders and asked his ministers to do the same.
Mr Gopalakrishna Reddy, forest minister and a close aide of Mr Naidu, resigned from the Assembly to protest being dropped from the Cabinet. He has been in poor health for some time, but he met the Chief Minister along with his family and tried to prevent his exit, but was not successful.
He sent his resignation letter saying that when he was not considered suitable to be minister, he isn't suitable to continue as an MLA.
Pedana MLA Kagita Venkata Rao organised a meeting with party cadre and resigned as MLA. Along with him, MPTCs, ZPTCs, councillors and party mandal presidents resigned.
Mr Rao said that he was under pressure from the party cadre to submit his resignation. Mr Rao, who had expected a ministry in 2014 after the TD came to power, was hospitalised after he was denied a Cabinet post. He said he will send his resignation to the Speaker as well as Mr Naidu.
Mr Narendra’s followers are demanding that he resign from the TD. Mr Narendra is holding discussions with his supporters to determine his future course of action. As a five-time MLA, he said, he ought to have been inducted into the Cabinet.
Mr Butchaiah Chowdary, resigned as general secretary, distressed at not being included in the Cabinet despite 30 years in the party. He said the party considered “passing clouds” instead of the one who has stood by it. Mr Kishore Babu is reportedly headed towards the BSP.
MLA says Naidu ‘cut the throat of Kapus’
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday pulled up party legislator Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao, who had alleged earlier in the day that Mr Naidu had “made use of the Kapu community and had slit the throat of Kapus”.
He was speaking after he was refused a berth in the Cabinet during the reshuffle.
Mr Naidu first despatched MPs Kesi-neni Srinivas ‘Nani’ and Konakalla Narayana to pacify the legislator. When that did not work, he summoned Mr Rao to his office. The MLA later calmed down.
When he arrived, Mr Naidu warned Mr Rao of disciplinary action for the fracas with transport commissioner Balasubrahmanyam last week, along with previous issues. He said it was not right for a first-time MLA to expect a Cabinet berth,
Mr Naidu told him pointed that the Cabinet had five five Kapu leaders, and no other party had given the community such prominence.
Mr Rao softened considerably after the meet and told the media that he would follow the instructions of Mr Naidu.
