Another TDP MLA in Telangana quits, party will tide over crisis, says Naidu

A day after its floor leader in the Legislative Assembly quit the party, the TDP in Telangana suffered a fresh setback on Thursday with another party MLA announcing his decision to resign.

Rajender Reddy, TDP legislator from Narayan Peth in Mahabubnagar district, said he decided to quit the party in the interest of his constituency's development.

The MLA regretted he could not do much for his Assembly segment's development in the last 20 months.

Reddy said he would hold talks with TRS President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao after he returns from Delhi.

Reddy, speaking at a TDP meeting presided over by party boss and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu earlier in the day, expressed anguish over the outfit's affairs in Telangana in the wake of electoral defeats and desertions from its ranks.

On Wednesday, TDP floor leader in Telangana Assembly E Dayakar Rao and another MLA Prakash Goud joined the ruling TRS.

If Reddy also joins TRS, the number of TDP MLAs who have switched over to the ruling party since 2014 would rise to 10. The Naidu-led outfit had won 15 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections.

Speaking on the rising number of party defectors, Naidu on Thursday said that his party would overcome the crisis. Recalling that TDP had faced several hurdles in its 34-year history, Naidu told an extended meeting of the party's Telangana unit that workers were the real strength of TDP.

TDP faced a lot of problems when it was in opposition for 10 years. The party would not be weakened with a few leaders deserting it, he said.

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister, who has of late shifted his base to Vijayawada, said he would spend more time to guide the party in Telangana.

He asked TDP leaders to come up with a plan of action to strengthen the party in Telangana.

The party has also filed disqualification petitions with the Assembly Speaker against its MLAs who quit the party.