Date:16/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/16/stories/2008061650030100.htm

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AICC serves show cause notice on Vuppunuthula

Vuppunuthula Purushotham Reddy

HYDERABAD: Ending several days of suspense, All India Congress Committee (AICC) has finally served show cause notice on senior Congress and Telangana Regional Development Board chairman Vuppunuthula Purushotham Reddy, for alleged anti-party activities during recent byelections.

The notice asked him why action should not be initiated against him for allegedly working against the official nominee S. Lazarus in Alair Assembly constituency byelections.

He was asked to respond to the charges which included his criticism against the government, before June 27.

Unhappy

Irked by the party leadership for not involving him in selection of candidates, Mr. Purushotham Reddy had openly claimed that he would not campaign for the party nominee Mr. Lazarus.

He was also unhappy as the party had made the Information Technology Minister R. Damodar Reddy in-charge of byelections to Alair.

After the byelection debacle, Mr. Lazarus and his supporters staged a demonstration at the party headquarters, besides undertaking fast at Indira Park openly accusing Mr. Purushotham Reddy of working against him.

His charge against the senior leader gained credence after the Alair TRS MLA G. Nagesh went on record stating that Mr. Purushottam Reddy and TDP vice-president Gutta Sukhender Reddy had extended support to him in the byelections.

Sources close to Mr. Reddy maintained that he has yet to receive such a notice from the high command.

The Nalgonda District Congress Committee had already issued show cause notices to his followers for anti-party activities.