Another party for Telengana

The political space in Telengana got even more crowded with the launch of yet another party called the Nava Telengana Praja Party (NTPP) on Friday.

The new party, which will compete with the five-year-old Telengana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Party, was floated by T. Devender Goud, a prominent backward class leader and the erstwhile No 2 in the Telugu Desam Party. Goud quit last month over differences with TDP boss N Chandrababu Naidu.

“We have launched the party to provide a political platform to the Telengana people to fight for justice and their rights,” Goud said. He has ruled out alliances for the time being. Goud, who has been revenue and home minister previously, said, “...the people of Andhra should part with Telengana as brothers.”

The party started with Goud launching a vitriolic attack on the ruling Congress and the main opposition TDP, accusing them of playing with the sentiments of the people of Telengana and ignoring their problems post election.

The new party could give the TRS sleepless nights, given Goud’s organisational skills and fund-raising capacities. Already, many intellectuals and student leaders in Telengana have switched loyalities to the NTPP.