“In Politics there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests”, is a quote that might be suitable to TTDP senior leader Mothkupally Narsimhulu. Narsimhulu had lost the election at the hands of Congress senior leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka from Madhira constituency in the 2014 elections. After the elections, several senior TDP MLAs have joined ruling TRS party and some of them have got cabinet positions too. Many TDP leaders, who lost their election, too have joined ruling TRS party and are still joining TRS party. TRS party leaders too stated that many TTDP leaders would join TRS party in future too.
Many a time, Narsimhulu has stated that his boss and TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assured him that he will provide an appropriate position to him. Rumours did rounds for the last three years that Narsimhulu would get Governor post. Recently, the centre had appointed new governors and after that Narsimhulu lost all hopes of getting Governor post. Narsimhulu has expressed his dissent openly in this regard and sent feelers in favour of ruling TRS party too. Today, Mothkupally openly made shocking statement at NTR Ghat while paying tributes to TDP founder, former Chief Minister late NTR, that it is good for Chandrababu Naidu to merge TTDP in the ruling TRS party.
It may be recalled that Mothkupally spat fire at former TTDP working president and Kodangal MLA A Revanth Reddy when the latter left TTDP and joined Congress party in the presence of AICC Chief Rahul Gandhi at Delhi. Then Mothkupally alleged that their boss (Chandrababu) had committed a mistake by giving TTDP working president post to Revanth Reddy, who joined TDP only a few years ago. Terming Revanth Reddy as an ‘Iron Leg’, Mothkupally also alleged that the Congress party will pay the price for inducting Revanth Reddy into its fold. Mothkupally also said that Revanth’s exit is good for TTDP. Reacting to it, Revanth Reddy countered Mothkupally saying that Mothkupally and TTDP president L Ramana were criticizing him taking payment from TRS party. Revanth Reddy further said that the TDP leaders who criticised him, were in the habit of criticizing TRS Party leaders in the day and meeting the same TRS leaders in the night.
The sudden outburst of Mothkupally would not surprise political analysts as many leaders continuing in TDP are feeling a sort of unrest and political insecurity as the party was slowly diminishing in Telangana state. Many leaders of TDP have joined the Congress party and some joined TRS party when Revanth Reddy left the party.
According to political analysts, Mothkupally might have severely criticised Revanth Reddy for the latter’s sudden decision of joining Congress party leaving TDP. Mothkupally, who once left TDP and joined Congress party and left Congress party and again joined TDP, might be in frustration as he was becoming alone politically and hence made such statement on his own political party, which gave him a lot. Mothkupally was the leader who enjoyed a lot in TDP and was the SC leader who won many elections from general seat—Alair.
According to political analysts, Mothkuapally, who had also criticised Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao severely, is now in a dilemma as the elections were nearing. It is high time for him to take a decision to safeguard his political career and hence he made such shocking statement on the day of Party founder NTR’s death anniversary. It might be painful to such a senior leader as Mothkupally to remain without serious political activism..
Mothkupally’s statement may disturb TTDP but it is a fact that many leaders are leaving the party one by one. Rumours are doing rounds that fiery leader and TDP Ruythu Sangam president Vonteru Prathap Reddy too might leave the party and join Congress party. Prathap Reddy is in Chenchalguda jail in connection with Osmania University case. More leaders from Congress party are meeting him at Chenchalguda jail than TTDP leaders. Several political analysts are saying that it is a signal that Vonteru might join Congress party.
Telangana leaders continuing in TDP are waiting to leave the party and join other political party (TRS or Congress party) with prior assurance from those party leaders. According to sources, the TTDP leaders are with the party for the time being and they will leave it at an appropriate time because there is no guardian to the party in Telangana state, a senior TDP leader said on condition of anonymity. Some TTDP leaders have condemned the statement of Mothkupally immediately, but they too might take a decision on their political fortunes shortly. Mothkupally, who criticised KCR severely by terming him ‘dora’ (feudal) is now describing KCR as a friend and old horse of the TDP.
On the other hand, ruling TRS party and main opposition party Congress are also wishing the shut down of the TDP in Telangana state because they want to fight face to face, and don’t want division of votes with the continuation of TTDP in Telangana. But TTDP chief L Ramana has stated immediately after Mothkupally’s outburst that TTDP will field candidates in all 119 constituencies in 2019 elections at any cost and they are giving training to the party leaders at NTR Trust Bhavan in this regard. One has to wait and see what happens to TTDP before 2019 elections.(NSS)