Exodus in Telugu Desam: Babu losing more party leaders

July 5, 2008
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, July 4: The Telugu Desam is losing its senior leaders faster than any political party in the State. If the recent exodus from the Telugu Desam is any indication, the party has lost the most number of leaders in the State in the last three months.
Though political exodus has been quite common in an election year in the State, this is the first time that about a dozen senior TD leaders have left the party in such a short span of time in its 25 years of history. The party used to lose only a couple of senior leaders and a few dozen of their supporters in the run up to elections. But most of them were those who failed to get the party ticket to contest
elections.
This time around, however, the TD is faced with the unprecedented problem of political exodus. Some have left over the demand for separate State for Telangana and others have quit the party with the fond hope of joining hands with film actor Chiranjeevi, who is reportedly planning to launch a new political party shortly.
The political exodus in the TD began with former minister K Vidyadhar Rao. After him senior leaders including T Trimurthulu, Devendar Goud, E Peddi Reddy, Paleti Rama Rao and Vanga Geeta have left the Telugu Desam. Bhuma Nagi Reddy and his B Sobha,
who have a considerable following in Kurnool district of Rayalaseema region, left the party on Friday evening.
At least another dozen senior leaders are likely to quit the party once the TD leadership takes a clearcut stand on Telangana and Chiranjeevi floats his political party.
"The party has been neglecting senior leaders. There's no respect for them," Nagi Reddy said peeved at the way his family had been treated by the TD State leadership.
According to sources, other senior leaders like Kadiam Srihari, S Venugopalachari, Ch Muthyam Reddy and G Sukendar Reddy are ready to leave once the TD announces its decision on separate Telangana.