Farming community in the State is suffering heavily due to the irresponsibility and inefficiency of the State Government and Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, appears to be more worried about the political developments in the neighbouring State of Telangana than the effect of the Mig Jam cyclone on the farmers in the State, observed TDP politburo member and MLA, Gornatla Butchaiah Chowdary, on Monday.

The ruling party has no minimum responsibility to come to the rescue of the farmers when floods and cyclones are causing damage to the State and even when the State is reeling under severe drought conditions, Butchaiah Chowadary told media persons at the party headquarters here. The spineless Chief Minister started feeling shaky after the latest political developments in the neighbouring State of Telangana, he added.

Making it clear that the Chief Minister is responsible for the damage to be caused for the lives and property by the Mig Jam cyclone, the TDP MLA asked as to why the State Government has not initiated any preventive measures to check the damage to the crop despite knowing pretty well that severe cyclonic storm is going to hit the State. Even tarpaulins have not been supplied to the farmers to prevent their grain from getting it moisturised.

Regretting that tractors and other necessary infrastructure is not available to procure grain, Butchaiah Chowdary asked whether the Government feels that its responsibility is over after releasing funds for the cyclone-hit areas. During the TDP regime when the cyclones and other disasters hit the State, the then chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu, personally visited the area and conducted periodical review meetings with the local officials, he stated.

If the Chief Minister is inefficient, the officials need not lose their efficiency and they can always take necessary measures to overcome the situation, Butchaiah Chowdary felt. Without taking any measures to save the farmers from the drought conditions, the Chief Minister has played a big drama in the name of Nagarjuna Sagar dam, the TDP politburo member remarked.

Butchaiah Chowdary felt that the people in the State are suffering a lot due to the failure of the law-and-order situation and said that the officials, particularly in the police wing, should mend their ways at least now.

Telugu Desam Party politburo member and MLA, Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, on Tuesday came down heavily on the State Government for bringing in a GO which he termed as a new year gift that deprives the people of their democratic rights.

Butchaiah Chowadary told media persons at the party headquarters here that the GO No-1 has been issued on the provisions of the 1861 Police Act implemented by the then Britishers, which are totally outdated.

The GO No-1 is a classic example that Jagan turned as a murderer of the democracy and it once again proved his dictatorial mentality, he said. The Chief Minister did not learn a lesson though the Press Council of India (PCI) has pulled him up when he issued a similar GO No-2430, the TDP politburo member stated.

Asserting that Jagan Reddy is trying to stifle the voice of the Opposition as he is unable to digest the enormous response to the meetings of TDP supremo, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, he felt that by issuing such GOs Jagan is only making efforts to cover up his failures and the growing anti-incumbency.

The MLA asked whether the State government will provide enough security to the meetings of Chandrababu Naidu as per 304(2) and 304(10) of the Standing Orders of the Police Manual. “Till now people are under the impression that Jagan is taking shelter behind the curtains and barricades but now it is understood that he is taking shelter behind the GOs too,” Butchaiah Chowdary remarked.

Making it clear that the TDP will wage a war to decide on the public domain whether the Chief Minister has the right to take away the fundamental rights of the people through such GOs, he asked whether the same norms mentioned in the GO No-1 are applicable to the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues also.

Observing that the days are numbered for Jagan to remain in power, Butchaiah Chowdary demanded that the GO No-1 be withdrawn immediately as he is murdering the democracy with such steps.

Senior TDP MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary is angry and sullen. He has suddenly raised a banner of revolt and began speaking against the party line. He has gone to the extent of inviting Junior NTR to come and save the party. But, what is the real reason for his sudden anger? Why is he suddenly so upset? His rivalry with Adireddy Appa Rao is an old story and does not require him to think of resigning from the party.

Sources close to Butchaiah say that there is another reason why Butchaiah is upset. They say that he is upset at being ignored in the party. Though a six-time MLA, who has been associated with the party from the time of its inception, he always felt that the party leadership did not recognize him. He always felt that he was not given his due. He is said to have told his close associates that neither his sincerity nor his seniority was being respected.

But the real reason, according to insiders, is quite different. Butchaiah is unhappy at party MLA Payyavula Keshav getting another extension as the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee. Keshav has been given the position as the chief of the PAC. The position is always given to a leader from the opposition and party chief nominates a person of his choice for the coveted post. Butchaiah feels that once the term of Keshav ended, he should have got the post by virtue of his loyalty to the party and his seniority in the party. However, Chandrababu Naidu has re-appointed Keshav. Upset by this, Butchaiah is said to have raised his voice against the party and Chandrababu, sources say.

TDP insiders say that Butchaiah knows that the four MLAs who had left the party and joined the YSRCP after 2019 are going through a harrowing time as Jagan has completely sidelined them. At the same time, Butchaiah, who has always been known for his anti-Congress politics, can never adjust himself in the YSRCP. So, Butchaiah is only demonstrating his disappointment and anger over the party leader ignoring his claim.

Butchaiah reportedly nursed a grievance against Chandrababu Naidu. In fact, he was one of the few loyalists of NTR when Chandrababu Naidu revolted and dethroned him in the August coup of1994. Butchiah had also joined the Harikrishna-Lakshmiparvathi led NTR-Telugu Desam and lost the elections. Later, he rejoined the TDP. But, he always felt that he was sidelined because of his loyalty to NTR.