Notwithstanding the preaching made by Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu about value-based politics, his party leaders continue to prove that there are absolutely no values in his party.
Take the case of controversial TDP MLA from Denduluru Chintamaneni Prabhakar, who has earned the notoriety of being a rowdy element. This time, he is back again in the news for making the controversial comments on Dalits.
A video of Chintamaneni making objectionable comments against Dalits is now going viral in the social media.
In the video he is heard saying: "You are Dalits. You belong to Scheduled Caste. We have do politics and need positions. Why do you need positions?” He also reportedly used some filthy words against Dalits.
Apparently, Chintamaneni said these words at Janmabhoomi Maa Vooru programme organized at Sriramavaram village in Denduluru mandal in West Godavari district in January.
As his comments went viral in the social media, several Dalit leaders staged a dharna in Eluru and demanded that the MLA be booked under SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act. They also wanted Naidu to suspend him from the party.
In another incident, TDP leader and former MLA Paleti Rama Rao and his followers reportedly beat up four villagers in Chirala town for questioning the TDP government for not addressing to their problems.
The severely injured villagers lodged a complaint with the Chirala rural police station. The police booked a case for rioting and disturbing peace on Rama Rao and his followers and arrested four of them.
So, can Naidu control such rowdy elements in the party? Will he deny tickets to Chintamaneni and such leaders?