Two Andhra ministers have become embroiled in a public spat, after the land scam in Visakhapatnam that surfaced recently.
In the latest development, Andhra HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao wrote a letter to Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu hitting out at Minister for Roads and Buildings Ayyanna Patrudu.
This came after Patrudu had hinted Ganta's involvement in the scam, and told media persons that it was politicians "who had migrated to Vizag, that were indulging in land scams."
Demanding a thorough probe by the CID or the CBI, Ganta claimed that Ayyanna's remarks were damaging the reputation of the TDP and was giving ammunition to Opposition leaders to attack the ruling party.
"Your efforts to develop the state have gone waste with these allegations. I am requesting you to conduct a CID, or CBI, or judicial inquiry... to reveal the facts to the public," the Times of India quoted the letter as saying.
Quoting sources, the TOI report also adds that the undated letter was handed over to Naidu on June 4, but was leaked to the media from Vijayawada.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that the state government was in damage control mode, and could take a call on the issue, during Naidu's upcoming visit to Visakhapatnam.
The report also adds that Naidu had made earlier attempts to patch things up between the two leaders, but in vain.
The two leaders are known to have friction between them and have traded several such political and verbal blows with each other in the past.
In April 2015, Naidu had warned both ministers that they would lose their posts, if they continued to do politics within the party.
"I expect both of you to use your seniority and experience to strengthen the party and help the people in the state. Every member should strive hard for the development of the party and try to strengthen the TDP to make it a permanent ruling party in the state," he was quoted as saying.