Date:18/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/18/stories/2008041860521200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP will obtain majority view on Telangana issue: Naidu

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday reiterated that the party was not against Telangana and said it would prefer to obtain the majority opinion before making its stand clear.

Replying to questions, Mr. Naidu said not only the five-member committee constituted to study the situation obtained in the three regions, but he too would gauge the opinion of people during his ‘mee kosam yatra’ beginning April 21. The committee would function and continue the exercise irrespective of the coming byelections.

He said there were conflicting demands with sections in Telangana and Andhra pitching in for separate States while others opposing them totally.

The best way was to discuss the issue as widely as possible and then take a decision.

Mr. Naidu was non-committal on whether he would seek the support of his son Lokesh, saying it was wrong to compare and drag those who were not interested in politics.

He defended seeking the support of NTR’s family members that included Telugu cine actors for his yatra and the party.

In the by-elections, the party would focus on how Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was responsible for stoking not only regional but inter-district rivalries.

On forging alliance with Left parties in byelections, the TDP chief said it needs to be discussed by the party. The dharna held on Thursday in cooperation with Left parties was confined to the fight against price rise, he said.

He expected the main contest between TDP and TRS in some and with Congress in other constituencies.

Mr. Naidu said his yatra would herald third generation economic reforms, focussing on taking benefits to all sections of people.