Does Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy Deserve The Stab? 

K Ramachandra Murthy

Hyderabad: Is Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu living up to his reputation of using the people and throw them away after the desired purpose was served? The case of Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy confirms the opinion that Naidu continues to practise the method which was notoriously used after Viceroy drama which was enacted to dethrone the founder of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) NT Rama Rao from the position of Chief Minister in August 1995.

It was, in fact, Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy who spoke to his brother-in-law Prabhakara Reddy, owner of Viceroy hotel on the banks of Hussain Sagar. At that time, Naidu and his friends like Yenamala Ramakrishnudu, Elimineti Madhava Reddy, Ashok Gajapati Raju and Devender Gowd were looking for a safe hideout to lodge the MLAs who joined their group. Viceroy came handy, thanks to the good offices of Gopalakrishna Reddy who persuaded a reluctant Prabhakara Reddy to allow his hotel as a center of revolt against NTR whom he revered. The name of the hotel became part of the political history of Andhra Pradesh for wrong reasons. Bojjala, in a way, helped Naidu to stab NTR in the back. Does Bojjala himself deserve to be stabbed?

Bojjala happens to be a son-in-law of former minister Peddireddy Tummala Reddy. Bojjala has been with the TDP right from its inception. He won since 1989, when he first contested to Assembly, from Srikalahasti as many as five times losing only once, in 2004, in the Congress wave created by YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Bojjala was a steadfast follower of Naidu. He never contemplated the idea of leaving the party. He was always very close to Naidu. In fact, he was travelling with Naidu in the same car which was ambushed by Naxalites at Alipiri in 2003. Both Naidu and Bojjala had providential escape. A politician like YSR would never have dropped such a valued, long standing friend. But then, it is very well established that Naidu is bereft of sentiments.

Bojjala is justified in being angry with Naidu. It is a fact that Bojjala has been losing memory and keeping indifferent health. About a year ago, Bojjala offered to quit. But Naidu said there was no need to resign. Now, being dropped unceremoniously along with tainted ministers like Peethala Sujata and Ravela Kishore Babu has upset the senior leader. People would paint him with the same brush and treat him as either corrupt or inefficient. Naidu offered to make Krishna Reddy's son Sudheer Reddy a TDP candidate in next election. Sudheer is presently a TDP leader and a contractor. But Naidu's assurance did not mollify Krishna Reddy who in a huff sent his resignation from the membership of Assembly to CM Chandrababu Naidu and Speaker Dr Kodela Siva Prasad.