Naidu finally gets invite for NTR statue inauguration in Delhi

After finally receiving an invitation from the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu will visit New Delhi tomorrow to take part in the unveiling function of party founder N T Rama Rao's statue in the Parliament complex.
Following a protest lodged by TDP MPs over not inviting their leader for the function, Speaker Meira Kumar called Naidu over phone this afternoon and extended the invitation, party sources said here.
After years of "procedural delay", the life-size statue of the Telugu film legend and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has been installed in the Parliament complex, which the Lok Sabha Speaker will unveil.

The statue installation issue has reportedly widened the rift between Naidu and Union Minister and Congress MP Daggubati Purandeswari, who happens to be his sister-in-law.
Though the TDP MPs were called to the event, Naidu was not invited though Purandeswari and her MLA-husband Daggubati Venkateswara Rao claimed they had sent an invite. "Chandrababu refused to take the invitation," Venkateswara Rao claimed.
The TDP MPs, led by Parliamentary party leader Nama Nageswara Rao, met the Speaker this morning and lodged a protest over not inviting their party chief to the function.

Following this, Kumar had a telephonic talk with the TDP chief and requested him to attend the statue unveiling function. Accordingly, the former Chief Minister has decided to visit New Delhi tomorrow for the event, the sources said.

Meanwhile, NTR's widow (second wife) Lakshmi Parvati found fault with the Lok Sabha Speaker for not inviting her to the function. She also lashed out at Purandeswari, saying it was because of her that she was not invited.
"As the late leader's widow, I have a right to seek an invitation for the event. I will take legal action against Meira Kumar and Purandeswari over the issue," Parvati warned.