Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu, who emerged the undisputed leader of the party after its two-day general body meeting, asked partymen to retaliate against those who had “betrayed” the organisation, like Gudivada MLA Kodali Venkateshwara Rao, alias Nani. Mr Naidu was furious over Mr Nani’s decision to join the YSR Congress. He said he’d encouraged him and given him a ticket, overlooking the sitting member, but the former had betrayed the party.

He indirectly accused YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of encouraging “package politics” in the state and lashed out at the ‘incompetent’ Congress government for the collapse of the administration and for causing severe hardships to citizens. Mr Naidu also made it clear he has no intention of handing over the reins of the party to anyone else and that he planned to lead the party again in the 2014 Assembly elections.

“We will come up with a series of policies on various issues, including Tela-ngana. We will issue clear policies on BCs, STs, SCs, youth, women, minorities and other sections to revitalise the party,” he said. Sources said Mr Naidu has decided to write a letter to the Centre with a request to take an immediate decision on these issues and the party would stand by it. The meeting decided to cancel Mahanadu, the party annual jamboree which was postponed due to bypolls and to hold them in 2013.

It also decided to hold party village/ward committee elections from July 20 to 30, mandal committees from August 5 to 20, district committees from August 20 to 30. TD members Balakrishna, Lokesh, Jr NTR may be asked to campaign or may even get some posts in the 2014 Assembly elections, but they would have to play second fiddle to Mr Naidu, a party leader said. He added, “There is no leader in the party who can match Mr Naidu’s stature and hold the party together, especially when the YSR Congress is out to poach TD MLAs, the Congress is out to break the party and the TRS out to wipe it out in Telangana.”

Damage control exercise begins in Krishna
The Telugu Desam organised an emergency meeting at Gudivada in Krishna district on Tuesday as part of a damage-control exercise in the wake of local MLA Kodali Venkateswara Rao, alias Nani, leaving the party. However, the meeting did not quite go according to plan as the police detained several supporters who shouted slogans in support of Mr Venkateswara Rao outside the venue.

Machilipatnam MP Konakalla Narayana Rao, who organised the meeting to instil confidence among party activists, said the MLA’s exit would not affect TD. He said the party in-charge for Gudivada constituency would be appointed soon. Mr Narayana Rao said Mr Nani “deceived” the party though he was elected an MLA twice with support of TD activists. The MP added that the people of Gudivada would teach him a lesson.

Stressing that Gudivada has always extended support to the TD, former minister Yerneni Sitadevi said there would be no damage to the party with the MLA’s exit. Party state secretary L.D. Prasada Rao was among those present at the meet. Mr Venkateswara Rao had announced on Monday that he was quitting the party to join the YSR Congress.