TDP may ask its Telangana leaders to go slow

HYDERABAD: The fast-paced political developments in the state have brought some respite to the main opposition party, the Telugu Desam, which has been struggling politically in both Andhra and Telangana regions.Feeling more confident now, the party is likely to ask its Telangana leaders to go slow on the separate state demand after their bus yatra which culminates in a  public meeting at Mahaboobnagar on Thursday. As if not to complicate matters, the party’s Andhra and Rayalaseema leaders will not exhibit aggressive posture demanding United Andhra Pradesh.After Ghulam Nabi Azad’s statement of Tuesday, the Telangana Telugu Desam Forum (TTDF) will be asked to go slow on its agitational programmes and watch the political developments unfolding in the Congress.For their part, party leaders from Andhra will not take any hasty action like submitting their resignations. “Azad and other leaders are doing everything we want,” a TDP leader from Andhra remarked. He pointed out that Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal too was opposed to the idea of Andhra MPs and MLAs submitting resignations.The Andhra TDP leaders are also happy on another count. After the High Court’s directive to the CBI to do a preliminary into the `illegal assets’ of YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Andhra TDP leaders are confident that Jagan’s popularity will wane in the region. Jagan’s stand on Telangana will also benefit the TDP in Andhra. “Jagan has always stated that he will not go back once he takes a decision. After displaying a united Andhra placard in Parliament, he too took a U-turn. Andhra and Rayalaseema people will realise it,” a TDP MLA from Andhra said.Andhra TDP leaders too are happy that the bus yatra of their Telangana brethren is receiving good response from people. Party leader Yalamanchali Babu Rajendra Prasad said the good response to the yatra only showed that the party was strong in Telangana. Azad’s statement put a check on the sinister games played by the Congress and the TRS had no other option than to shut its shop, Rajendra Prasad said. “The Congress dug its own grave,” he remarked. Now, TDP has proved itself as a big party in Telangana. Jagan too would shut his shop soon and the TDP would have the going easy in the Andhra region, he felt.A Telangana TDP leader remarked: “It is only the TDP which is mingling with the masses in Telangana. While Congress leaders are shuttling between the Osmania University and Indira Park, TRS leaders are confined to their homes without any activity. People have extended a rousing reception to TDP leaders in Telangana.”Azad’s candid comments on state’s bifurcation and the High Court’s directive to the CBI on Jagan’s assets have given the much-needed confidence to TDP leaders, at least for the time being.