Former TDP MLA C C Venkatarayudu is threatening to go on indefinite fast in Hindupur constituency, represented by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s brother-in-law and party founder N T Rama Rao’s son Nandamuri Balakrishna. He was protesting against the highhanded attitude of Balakrishna’s personal assistant and seeking his immediate removal by realising ground realities in the constituency.

This has been exposing the growing discontent among TDP cadre in the constituency due to failure of Balakrishna to concentrate more on his constituency.It may be recalled that Hindupur of Anantapur district is considered to be fortress for TDP, as since its inception never the party candidate was defeated from here. This makes Balakrishna to choose this constituency, after deciding to contest in 2014 polls.

However, as he was unable to concentrate more and only visiting once in two or three months, staying three days, his personal assistance Kanumuri Sekhar turning here as a`proxy leader’ and dictating both party and government affairs here, keeping away established party leaders.

A government employee from Chittoor district, Sekhar by picking up some loyalists, who are nothing to do with TDP, said to be side-lining all party leaders. Reportedly without Balakrishna’s knowledge, he is even makes the functioning of party’s municipal chairpersons in Hindupur, Lepakshi and Chilamattur miserable, with his interference.

The disgruntled party leaders in the constituency are rallying around former party MLAs C C Venkatramudu, Abdul Ghani and BC Corporation Chairman Pamisetty Ranganayakulu. Already they have conducted meetings with discontented party cadre in Hindupur and Lepakshi mandals. The next meeting in Chilamattur mandal is slated to be held on February 5.

Venkatramudu made it clear that they have no discontent with their MLA Balakrishna, but only worried with the arrogant and corrupt attitude of Sekhar, which has been turning detrimental to the interests of the party.