Yerran predicts merger of Congress, Jagan's party

GUNTUR: TDP Politburo member K. Yerran Naidu predicted that Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy would merge his party into Congress if it offered to withdraw the slew of corruption cases pending against him. Being a new party, YSR Congress was in an aggressive mood but it will fade into oblivion sooner than later just as the Praja Rajyam which projected itself as champion of the masses became a constituent of the ruling party.
TDP is the only party in the country which had been fighting against the Congress party on its own ever since its inception 30 years ago. The party (TDP) has gone through its ups and downs but it's commitment to serve the people was beyond doubt, Mr. Naidu asserted.
Addressing the party's Guntur city unit meeting here on Thursday, Mr. Naidu said the party cadre should strive for success in the ensuing local bodies elections by working for people's welfare in right earnest. They should attract the nearly 90 per cent of 70 lakh people who voted for PRP in the Assembly elections but are unhappy with the party's merger with Congress.
The PRP was never expected to embrace the Congress party which was strongly criticized by it (PRP) during the 2009 elections for being corrupt and anti-people. YSR Congress party could also follow in the same path and it would be no surprise if it reverted back to its parent party.
Mr. Naidu said the TDP had achieved wonders in its 30-year existence. No other party in India worked for people's welfare as it did through NTR Trust. The Congress party which boasted of 125-year history had looted public money. The series of scandals that surfaced recently exposed it (Congress)'s complicity in the plundering of national wealth.
TDP district president and Chilakaluripet MLA Pratthipati Pulla Rao said there were disgruntled elements but it would be wrong to say that the entire party has become weakened.
While the party's top brass had the responsibility to fulfil the aspirations of the grass-root workers, the latter have to get closer to the masses thereby bring electoral successes.