Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed his party leaders and ministers not to make any derogatory remarks or criticise Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan directly or indirectly.

This direction comes after the Union home ministry made its displeasure felt regarding the AP government’s stance against the Governor, following a complaint by the latter.  Accordingly, all ministers, including chief whip Kaluva Srinivasulu, have toned down their rhetoric against Mr Narasimhan saying that they were simply expressing their agony and there was no deliberate attempt to malign him.

Confidential sources in the government said that the move would help stop the growing chasm between the Governor and TD leadership. “Mr Naidu’s message itself clearly shows that there could be a reconciliation between the two. If the intensity of diatribe is reduced, then there will be room for further course of action on grievances and other matters of importance,” a senior government official said.

But the TD has not totally closed its doors on the issue of implementation of Section 8 of the AP Reorganisation Act. Since it is directly connected to the controversial cash-for-vote scam, it will not stop immediately although there are indications that the party will mellow down if there is a change of stance of the TRS.

“One of our leaders (Revanth Reddy) was unjustly sent to jail and we are waging a battle on it. If the TRS government goes beyond its territory and targets our CM, then what should we do? We have to retaliate. So, if they stop with Revanth, it is well and good, else this (Section-8) will also continue to boil,” a minister told this newspaper.

“When a person or leader is caught while distributing money during election time, then cases shall be booked under CrPC Sections 171B and 171E. But Revanth was booked under ACB. This is against the law. During election time, bails were given in just 24 hours, but Revanth has been confined in prison for weeks. Is it not political vendetta?” asked senior TD leader Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy.

TRS, Jagan hand in glove, alleges Telugu Desam

In an effort to divert attention from cash-for-vote scam, the TD has come up with new disclosures. The TD, in a bid to wriggle out of the scam, levelled allegations against YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

AP finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said on Friday that the genesis of the conspiracy could be traced to a letter written by Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy to Mr Rao, recommending that Elivs Stephenson be made an MLC.

However, Mr Rao made Mr Stephenson a nominated MLA, he said.  He said that minister T. Harish Rao, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy and Mr Stephenson held a secret meeting and “hatched a conspiracy 10 days before the Revanth Reddy episode came to light.”  

Mr Ramakrishnudu posed 24 questions to Mr Rao and Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy and sought answers. He said that the statements of TS home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy and ACB DG A.K. Khan made it clear that the TS government indulged in phone tapping.