The TDP politburo, that met on Wednesday evening to take stock of the situation, resolved to intensify the stir at grass roots level. Despite of the offer made by several legislators to offer resignation, the politburo contained that idea fearing an onslaught by expelled Congress leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who is eager to topple the Congress government.
Meanwhile, the 60-year-old leader continued resisting the attempts by doctors at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) to forcibly give him intravenous fluids in view of his failing health. Naidu has locked himself inside a special room and is refusing to accept fluids.
“After seeing all the health parameters, the doctors said the situation may slip out of hands any time and this could have an impact on his heart,” Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy said. He added that the government would do anything to save the TDP leader in the wake of a local court ruling that it was the government's responsibility to take care of Naidu’s health.
NIMS director P V Ramesh told reporters that they had provided all ICU facilities in Naidu’s room. He once again urged Naidu’s family members to convince him to call off the fast in view of the possible complications for his health.
Naidu also rejected the advice of his wife Bhuvaneswari, who is with him in the hospital. Naidu’s relatives, including film actors Junior NTR and Kalyanram, called on him and appealed to him to call off his fast.
Stir still strong
The main opposition party has intensified protests across the state amid concerns about Naidu’s health. An all-party meeting barring Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) was also under way at NTR Trust Bhavan, the TDP headquarters.
“This government is acting in an inhuman way by not coming to the rescue of the farmers and by not caring for the health of our leader,” said senior TDP leader K Yerran Naidu. He claimed that daily 22 to 23 farmers were committing suicide due to the heavy crop losses folowing recent rains. “Chandrababu Naidu is not fasting for any political mileage as there are no elections in near future,” he said.
