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Naidu a 'pickpocket standing near a bus stand': Renuka

M S Shanker in Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is a 'pickpocket standing near a bus stand'. That shocking statement has been made by former Union minister and sidelined Telugu Desam Party leader Renuka Choudhary.

Choudhary couldn't help making this confession to a private television channel!

Earlier this year, Renuka had created a storm when she called the party's Rajya Sabha member and actress Jayaprada a 'bimbo'.

Incidentally, both the statements were made in the firebrand politician's interviews to the same televison channel.

Choudhary is angry with Naidu as he refused to nominate her to the Rajya Sabha for the third time earlier this year.

Naidu, for his part, was reportedly unhappy with Choudhary because she got into the Inder Kumar Gujral government without his consent. The TDP president had lobbied for Jayaprada, but Gujral favoured Renuka.

So what's Naidu doing about Choudhary's outburst? He has ordered his cadre to seize the video tapes of the said interview. ''How could she do this when he is already struggling with growing indiscipline in the party?'' is said to be the view shared by several leaders in the party.

Like in the Congress, groupism and intra-party rivalries at district and mandal levels are causing great concern to the party chief.

To add to his woes, an internal party survey has clearly warned Naidu of tough days ahead.

Against such a backdrop, Naidu would not like indiscipline to spread. Sources say he has received copies of the video tapes. If he finds that Choudhary had indeed made derogatory remarks against him, he may expel her from the party.

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