Shocking as it may seem, Chandrababu Naidu's hardcore supporters and long time associates are out to nix his plans to ally with the Congress. When Chandrababu leaked to the media that he might even ally with the Congress in both Telangana as well as Andhra Pradesh, he hoped his party would see it as a master stroke and fall in line willingly.
But, he appears to have miscalculated the mood in the party. The Telugu Tammullu or brothers as he calls his followers, are angry with Chandrababu for the alliance moves They said that the TDP was born on the principle of Anti-Congressism and asked as to how it could ever ally with its arch rival. Even senior leaders appear to be miffed at Chandrabab Naidu.
On Wednesday, Chandrababu told his party workers that the party might ally with the Congress to defeat the TRS in Telangana and BJP in AP. Though Chandrababu has been saying this, the party cadre and the leaders felt that his was aimed at garnering media coverage. But, when Chandrababu made it clear that the alliance with the Congress was here to stay, the party workers were shocked. Even senior leaders like Ayyanna Patrudu and KE Krishna Murthy have said that NTR's spirit would be pained by such opportunistic alliance. They sought to know as to how the TDP would ally with the Congress. They said the people would question them in public about this alliance.
Seeing the strong reaction from his most trusted colleagues, a shocked Chandrababu has begun course correction. He has asked another deputy CM Nimmakayala China Rajappa to issue a statement that there would be no alliance with the Congress. Clearly, Chandrababu did not expect this reaction and is now busy dousing the fires.
But, he appears to have miscalculated the mood in the party. The Telugu Tammullu or brothers as he calls his followers, are angry with Chandrababu for the alliance moves They said that the TDP was born on the principle of Anti-Congressism and asked as to how it could ever ally with its arch rival. Even senior leaders appear to be miffed at Chandrabab Naidu.
On Wednesday, Chandrababu told his party workers that the party might ally with the Congress to defeat the TRS in Telangana and BJP in AP. Though Chandrababu has been saying this, the party cadre and the leaders felt that his was aimed at garnering media coverage. But, when Chandrababu made it clear that the alliance with the Congress was here to stay, the party workers were shocked. Even senior leaders like Ayyanna Patrudu and KE Krishna Murthy have said that NTR's spirit would be pained by such opportunistic alliance. They sought to know as to how the TDP would ally with the Congress. They said the people would question them in public about this alliance.
Seeing the strong reaction from his most trusted colleagues, a shocked Chandrababu has begun course correction. He has asked another deputy CM Nimmakayala China Rajappa to issue a statement that there would be no alliance with the Congress. Clearly, Chandrababu did not expect this reaction and is now busy dousing the fires.