HYDERABAD: In an open rebellion against the
TRS party leadership,
Somarapu Satyanarayana, the ruling party MLA from
Ramagundam, has said there was lack of discipline in the party and announced he would quit politics. He said the party leadership has not been able to discipline local leaders plotting against him.
“The very people that I have groomed in the TRS are working to defeat me in the next elections.
There is no control over their activities. Instead of allowing my reputation to be sullied, I have decided to quit politics. I will continue to do what I love to do most, which is serving the people by continuing with my social service,” MLA Somarapu Satyanarayana said.
Satyanaryana who is also TSRTC chairman said he was also not satisfied with being the chairman as he had tried to bring about a change in the organisation but could not. “RTC is a sinking ship and here in my constituency, my own partymen are waiting to defeat me, I do not want to continue in politics,” he said in Ramagundam on Thursday.
What brought the issue to a flashpoint was a no-confidence motion that was moved against the Mayor of Ramagundam municipal corporation Konkati Laxminarayana. The Mayor alleged that Satyanarayana himself was behind
TRS corporators ganging up against him and joining with the TDP and Congress corporators to move the no-confidence motion. A notice signed by 39 out of 50 corporators was submitted to Peddapalli district collector Devasena.
The TRS leadership was learnt to have chided Satyanarayana for the no-confidence move and asked him to see that it was withdrawn. Satyanarayana, however, claimed that corporators who were unhappy with the way the Mayor was functioning. He claimed that he told them that he would not interfere in such matters and they could do whatever they wanted to. Holding him responsible for the non-confidence move, the TRS leadership asked him to convince the TRS corporators against the rebellion.
Municipal administration minister
K T Rama Rao is said to have spoken to Satyanarayana to defuse the situation but the latter expressed helplessness to him and other leaders and ministers. Attempts by TOI to reach Satyanarayana proved futile as his phone was switched off.