Naidu reins in Telangana members

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and leader of the opposition N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday restrained his members from the Telangana region from joining the ongoing ruckus on separate statehood in the Assembly.

Though defiant Nagam Janardhan Reddy, who has been spearheading the agitation within the TDP, went ahead with his protest in the House, Naidu singled him out while stopping others from joining him. Naidu’s loyalists from Telangana openly attacked Janardan Reddy for his 'one upmanship' when he asked his colleagues to join him in stalling the house.

Today was the second day to take up normal business in the House after the Budget session started on February 17. However, it continued to be under siege and a determined Naidu wanted to end this, much to the relief of the ruling party.

When some members rose from their chairs as soon as Nagam went to the Speaker’s podium demanding introduction of a resolution in favour of Telangana statehood, Naidu instructed them to sit down. They simply obeyed his orders. Being singled out by his leader, Nagam, however went on asking his colleagues to join the protest.