YSRCP asks President to derecognise TDP

Visakhapatnam: The trading of charges between the ruling party and main opposition in Andhra Pradesh took a new twist on Tuesday with YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader V Vijaya Sai Reddy asking President Ram Nath Kovind to derecognise the TDP for its conduct.

After ransacking of its offices and arrest of TDP spokesman B Pattabhiram, Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu had led a delegation to Rashtrapati Bhavan demanding imposition of President's rule in Andhra to end what he termed 'politics of vendetta.' Naidu who sat on a deeksha against the arrest and the protests by YSRCP leaders had defended Pattabhiram's criticism, the ruling party leaders claimed that using filthy language against a government chosen with a record margin is unheard of anywhere in India. Vijaya Sai Reddy in a representation to the President stated that TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu had made no attempt to condemn comments by Pattabhiram.

He said the members of TDP have also been accusing the State and its leadership of cultivating, peddling, transporting and trading ganja and other narcotics, spreading the allegations far and wide damaging the brand image of the State by naming it as a hub of narcotics and tagging the youth with vices and irresponsible behaviour which will have a far-reaching effect on the young minds.

Naming Pattabhiram, senior leader Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao and Naidu's son Nara Lokesh for abusive behaviour, he produced audio and video recordings as 'evidence' for President's intervention.

Demanding disqualification of TDP, he said the President should use his good offices to direct the concerned authorities to take immediate action to derecognise TDP.

"We also urge you to direct the Ministry of Law and Justice to formulate a law akin to the Contempt of Courts Act in the Parliament that specifically penalise any deliberate and malicious acts that are intended to outrage the dignity of constitutional functionaries," he stated in the representation.