TDP changes tune, seeks separate Telangana

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party on Thursday for the first time took a pro-Telangana stand and said on Thursday it was in favour of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

“In deference to the sentiments of the people of the region, the Telugu Desam supports the demand for a separate statehood to Telangana,” the party politburo declared in its one-page resolution made public on Thursday.

Announcing the decision at the party headquarters here, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said Telangana was a “historic necessity” and “our party has taken the right decision in this regard.”

The TDP, which was founded by late NT Rama Rao in 1982 to safeguard the
“Telugu pride” and “self respect”, would continue to uphold these ideals and “we shall re-dedicate ourselves to the Telugu people”, Naidu said.

The TDP’s pro-Telangana stand was not taken for any political aims, he asserted, adding that the party had conducted an elaborate exercise for over two-and-a-half years on the “sensitive” issue.

“We do not take certain decisions only for political gains. We go by the people’s wishes and respect them,” Naidu said.

The TDP will do whatever required “legally, constitutionally and politically” for the creation of Telangana state, he added.

Replying to a question, Naidu said there was no need for any agitation or movement for Telangana now. He also criticised the Congress for not doing any thing for the people of Telangana even though it was the first party to raise the issue.