Will fight alone for T if needed: Nagam

Under fire from MLAs of his own party from Telangana, Telangana Telugu Desam Party Forum convenor Nagam Janardhan Reddy on Monday said that he would continue to struggle for a separate state even if he is the only voice raising the issue from his party.

Mr Janardhan Reddy told media persons at the Assembly Media Point that even if some of his party colleagues from Telangana region do not support his fight for a separate statehood, he would carry on with the struggle. The senior leader pointed out that he would not be crossing the party line while doing so since the separate Telangana statehood issue was part of the party’s election manifesto, as approved by a resolution adopted in 2008.

The senior leader had earlier in the day been challenged by his party MLAs who had claimed that Mr Janardhan Reddy had been taking unilateral and arbitrary decisions on the Telangana struggle. They had accused their senior party colleague of raising the Telangana bogey only to further his political career and protect his self interests.

Responding to these allegations, Mr Janardhan Reddy denied that he was acting unilaterally. He stated, “Even if some party members do not support me, I will continue my fight alone until the formation of state.” The TTDPF convenor continued, “I am not resorting to blackmail politics on Telangana and not staging agitation to protect my own interests.”

The ‘Telangana face’ of the TDP went on, “Except a few members, all other party colleagues from the region are with me. Besides them, I have the support and backing of four crore people from Telangana.”

Mr Janardhan Reddy also added that, “I had already made my stand clear that the TDP MLAs cannot remain mute spectators when the CPI, TRS and Congress Members were boycotting the Assembly over the Telangana statehood demand.”

He said that not boycotting the Assembly Sessions when other parties were doing so would have sent a very wrong message to the people. “Sitting in the House with Members from Seemandhra regions would have sent a very wrong message to the people of Telangana,” Mr Janardhan Reddy stated.

The senior TDP leader vowed that, “If the Centre announces a favourable decision on Telangana and his party expresses its opposition, then I will not hesitate to leave the party and fight on for a separate state.”