Two more TDP leaders resign

Even as Chandrababu Naidu held parleys at New Delhi to save the UNPA, his own party, the TDP, is facing an unprecedented turmoil with more leaders putting in their papers.

Barely has the TDP recovered from the shock in the wake of the resignation of T. Devender Goud, the erstwhile No 2, two more leaders belonging to the Rayalaseema region quit the party on Saturday. Bhuma Nagi Reddy, a powerful leader in the faction-ridden Kurnool district and his wife Shobha came to Kurnool in a procession of over 300 cars and tendered their resignation from TDP. They are likely to join the new party to be floated by actor Chiranjeevi next month. “The TDP under Naidu has failed to live up to the expectations of workers,” he charged.

Their resignation is expected to have adverse bearing on the TDP’s prospects in Kurnool and Nadyal, besides 15 assembly seats.

Another top leader from the coastal Andhra region has decided to quit TDP for greener pastures. M. Pedda Rathaiah, four-time MLA and former minister, held a meeting with his supporters to chalk out his future course of action. Sources close to him said he was likely to join Chiranjeevi’s party. He charged the party leadership of humiliating him.