Naidu rules out TDP merger with TRS

 Hyderabad: Amidst growing speculation that TDP Telangana unit will wind up its activities in Telangana, party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday ruled out merger of his party with any other party.

The TDP chief’s statement assumed political significance in the wake of the demand by senior TDP leader M Narasimhulu to the party high command to merge Telugu Desam with ruling TRS in Telangana. Naidu is also keen on taking up a whirlwind tour of Telangana to ascertain the political situation and the party’s strengths and weakness after the budget session of the Andhra Pradesh assembly. 

Speaking at the Telangana state party committee meeting at NTR Trust Bhavan here, Naidu while expressing his intention to tour Telangana also made it clear that TDP will continue to fight against TRS government and strengthen the party by 2019 elections.

He warned the leaders against making statements that would hurt the interests of the party. "No leader has the right to speak on the merger or any other issue which is sensitive in nature," he said.

The AP Chief Minister, however, dropped hints that the party was in favour of forging a pre- poll alliance with other parties depending on the political developments that take place ahead of elections in Telangana.

The TDP chief admitted that the party was facing leadership crisis due to the exodus of the party leaders to other parties in Telangana. He will promote new generation leadership and revive the party before the next elections.

He discussed the ongoing Bus Yatra taken up by the Telangana Congress and also the district tours embarked by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.