TDP leader stirs row over TRS merger remarks

Echoing the sentiment of party workers of the beleaguered Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) Telangana state unit, party senior leader Motkupalli Narsimhulu on Thursday urged  TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to merge the party with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party.

Narsimhulu said this after paying floral tributes to TDP founder NT Rama Rao at the NTR Ghat near the Secretariat on the occasion of death anniversary of the departed leader.

The chief minister, however, was not  present for the event.  

"Whatever may be the reason; Naidu must have come here and offered homage to NTR. The party in Telangana is in deep crisis and his presence would have bolstered the sagging morale of the party workers," said Narsimhulu.

He pointed out that party workers need some encouragement but there is no one to take up that responsibility.

"There is fear in the hearts of the cadre that the Telangana unit of  the party will soon disintegrate. Why don't we then merge the Telangana wing with the TRS? TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao is also a TDP man like us. So a merger of our cadres with the TRS will ensure political future of our workers," he added.

Reacting to Narsimhulu's comments, Telangana TDP chief L Ramana said that the party would react to  the former's comments after discussing the issue at the party level.

He denied that the TDP in Telangana is facing crisis and said his  party has a very strong cadre base in the state.