KURNOOL/HYDERABAD:Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his deputy KE Krishnamurthy seem to be crossing swords once again. In the wake of TDP MP N Siva Prasad’s allegation that Naidu is giving preferential treatment to the twin Godavari districts in allocation of funds and projects, Krishnamurthy on Saturday sang the same tune.
“The Chief Minister is neglecting Kurnool district as the TDP could not win many seats in the district. He is giving special treatment to West Godavari district where the party won all the seats,” he alleged.
According to him, Naidu has a poor opinion of Kurnool TDP leaders as the party could win only three out of 14 seats in the district in the last Assembly polls. “It is not our fault. The main cause for the party’s poor show was the party leadership’s decision to field Congress leaders, who joined the party at the last minute. They lost the elections because of the anti-incumbency factor,” he observed.
The political veteran chose the party’s Mini Mahanadu held at Kurnool on Saturday to take on his boss. While addressing the conclave, the deputy CM said Naidu had been time and again asking them as to why the TDP could not perform well in the district.
“Everyone knows the reason for our defeat in Kurnool district. We have failed to get both Muslim and Christian votes for various reasons,” he said. And almost all segments except three/four constituencies were allotted to leaders, who had joined the TDP from the Congress at the eleventh hour, and they had all lost the elections, he explained.
He asked Naidu to give more priority to complete pending irrigation projects in the district. Taking an indirect dig at the party leadership’s decision to appoint
Silpa Chakrapani Reddy as the new head of the TDP’s Kurnool unit, Krishnamurthy said, “Silpa Reddy would have to work hard to run the party unit, as he does not even know the geography of the district.” Describing the TDP decision to appoint Reddy for the top post as a “brave” move, he advised the new president to focus on visiting every nook and cranny in the district. “Now Reddy is happy as he has got the top post. But, he will have to suffer in the future, if he doesn’t maintain cordial relations with all,” he warned.
Further, the deputy CM fired salvos at the newly-appointed in-charge minister of the district K Atchannaidu, asking him to visit faction-dominated segments like Mantralayam, Banaganapalle, Allagadda and Adoni where YSRC leaders are harassing TD activists.
Naidu Dares KE for a Debate
Taking strong exception to his senior colleague KE Krishnamurthy’s remarks, Chief Minister Naidu on Saturday justified his decision of giving special treatment to the twin Godavari districts. “What is wrong with it? As the head of a party, it is my duty to develop those districts where people have given us a clear mandate to run the government,” Naidu said.
He indirectly challenged his deputy, saying, “I am challenging all those politicos, who are questioning my acts, to come for a debate whether anybody has ever undertaken such type of development works in Kurnool after independence.” Stating that his government is implementing several development works and Naidu advised Krishnamurthy to speak after recollecting all these efforts of the State government.