TRS dissidents demand founder's resignation

Telangana Rashtra Samithi dissidents led by suspended party legislator S Santosh Reddy on Friday demanded the resignation of the party founder and Union Labour Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao from the party chief's post. The party, on the other hand, threatened to expel Santosh Reddy and initiate disciplinary action against his supporters.

The tug-of-war between the dissidents and loyalists intensified with Santosh Reddy ruling out any compromise and holding a conclave of his supporters to chalk out their future plan of action. The TRS Legislature Party also held a meeting and reposed confidence in the leadership of Chandrasekhar Rao, popularly known as KCR.

Santosh Reddy blamed KCR for the party's failure in making any progress on its core objective of achieving separate Telangana state. He, however, vowed to continue the struggle for separate Telangana by joining hands with like-minded forces. TRS dissidents led by him visited Telangana martyrs' memorial and paid floral tributes before organising their meeting.

Though a large number of TRS workers and leaders from across the Telangana region attended Santosh Reddy's meeting, other TRS legislators were conspicuous by their absence. Santosh Reddy, who was suspended from the party on October 17 after he attacked KCR's style of functioning, told the gathering, "My suspension was a unilateral and undemocratic decision. If that is withdrawn, then I can talk to Chandrasekhar Rao." 

TRS legislature party was attended by 18 of the 25 legislators and all five MPs. Briefing newsmen, senior TRS leader and Union Minister of State A Narendra threatened that Santosh Reddy could be expelled from the party for his anti-party activities.

Narendra said he and other party leaders tried to work out a compromise between Santosh Reddy and KCR and they had asked Reddy to cancel his meeting. But with Santosh Reddy going ahead with the dissidents' meeting, the party would consider expelling him from the party.