Rumours again on Kala Venkat Rao quitting TDP

It has been quite a long time since one has heard about former Andhra Pradesh minister and senior Telugu Desam Party leader Kala Venkata Rao, who is considered to be a pillar of strength of the TDP in north coastal Andhra.

There have been no statements from Kala Venkat Rao nor have there been reports of him taking part in any major activities of the TDP in Srikakulam district. He has been maintaining a stoic silence in the party.

This led to the rumours once again that Venkat Rao is toying with the idea of quitting the TDP sooner or later. Some reports said he had recently met party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and explained his position.

The former minister reportedly complained to Naidu that he was completely sidelined in the party, ever since TDLP deputy leader K Atchannaidu who also hails from Srikalulam, became the state party president.

He told the party boss that Atchannaidu was interfering in the party activities in Etcherla assembly constituency and encouraging a rival group within the party. He requested Naidu to rein in Atchnnaidu.

But, it is learnt, there was no positive response or assurance from Naidu to his requests. This had caused disgruntlement in Venkat Rao, who is now said to be toying with the idea of quitting the party for good.

It is learnt Venkat Rao is now eying the Bharatiya Janata Party to sustain his political career and has reportedly held talks with the party national leaders, sources said.

However, this is not the first time that such rumours have emanated from the TDP in Srikakulam. Once in a year, such reports surface in the media and Venkat Rao has been denying the same.

In fact, Kala has not been very loyal to the TDP either. In January 2009, he resigned from the TDP and joined Praja Rajyam Party floated by megastar Chiranjeevi, hoping that being a Kapu, he would get a lot of importance there.

Chiranjeevi even made him political affairs committee member, but when Praja Rajyam Party failed to make an impact in the elections, Venkat Rao returned to the TDP in May 2010.

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