VISAKHAPATNAM: Putting an end to speculations and giving respite to the TDP leadership, Human Resource Development Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who had skipped the Cabinet meeting and reportedly went incommunicado to the party leadership for more than 24 hours, finally relented and took part in Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s programmes in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister N Chinna Rajappa was roped in to mediate with Srinivasa Rao and pacify him. Sources said Srinivasa Rao was unhappy over the leakage of the recent survey by the party about the winning chances of sitting MLAs in which Ganta’s position was shown as “delicate” in Bhimili Assembly constituency.
The leakage of the survey results irked the minister who was already upset over the party leadership’s support to his opponents and detractors who are not cooperating with him in the district. Ganta reportedly told his followers that though he was working hard for the party as well as public welfare, his opponents are making false allegations against him frequently and the party leadership is not making any efforts to come to his rescue.
With this, Ganta kept himself away from party activities and he did not paid interest in reviewing the arrangements of Chief Minister’s visit to the port city and even went to the extent of skipping the Cabinet meeting.He also skipped Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu’s official programmes in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. On the other hand, several followers of Ganta and his cadre met him and discussed about the present political scenario.
When the party leaders tried to contact him, the minister didn’t attend their phone calls. After several attempts made by TDP leaders and ministers, he made a brief phone conversation with his close relative and Municipal Minister P Narayana and reportedly conveyed his feelings to him. However, Ganta did not dropped any hint about his future plan. The TDP leadership finally sent Chinna Rajappa to tackle the situation. Chinna Rajappa came to Ganta’s residence at around 8.30 am and stayed there till 10.15 am. The Deputy CM was accompanied by TDP urban and rural district presidents and MLAs Vasupalli Ganesh, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, P Srinivas Rao. They tried to pacify the minister and finally their efforts yielded result.
Later, the Dy CM and Ganta jointly addressed reporters and said the entire episode was resolved peacefully. Ganta went to the airport to welcome the chief Minister and also participate in the CM’s programmes. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also spoke to Ganta and assured that the issues would be resolved at the appropriate time.Ganta said that he had discussed several issues with the Dy CM and Naidu over phone and got clarification for many of his grievances.