HYDERABAD: After his outburst against his boss N Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishna Murthy is understood to be planning to flex his muscles by organising a public meeting with BCs near Vijayawada/Guntur soon.
Though Murthy claims the proposed meet is aimed at garnering the support of BCs to the efforts of the government to build the new capital near Vijayawada, sources hint at a ‘secret’ agenda. “The date and venue are yet to be finalised. Krishna Murthy is planning to invite all the BC ministers in the State Cabinet along with prominent BC leaders,” said one of his close aides.
According to sources, Murthy, who is understood to be unhappy with the way Naidu is allegedly preferring businessmen-turned-politicos to career politicians in his Cabinet, is of the view that he should use the meeting to revive his past glory in the party. It is learnt that Murthy is taking the help of TDP MP Konakalla Narayana Rao, who also belongs to the same Goud community as himself, for his show of strength.
“Konakalla has now become president of the AP Goud Sangham. Krishna Murthy is planning to hold the BCs’ meeting with his help,” confirmed a senior TDP leader from Krishna district. Murthy himself had disclosed to journalists that he was planning a massive public meeting with BCs near Vijayawada to “express solidarity” with Naidu’s efforts to build the new capital. However, Murthy’s brother and TDP leader KE Pratap said, “So far, we have not made up our mind on holding the meeting.”
Meanwhile, Kesana Shankar Rao, the newly-elected president of the AP unit of BC Welfare Association, founded by Telangana TDP MLA R Krishnaiah, is holding a meeting in Guntur on Jan 3.
He confirmed that he had invited Murthy but denied that the latter had anything to do with the meeting.