The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which is in opposition in Andhra Pradesh, is hankering for the limelight. So, it was quick to claim credit when the Central government put on hold its directive to Reliance to prioritise natural gas supply for the Ratnagiri Power Project in Maharashtra within a week of issuing the initial order. TDP leaders claimed it is their pressure tactics that forced the government to rethink its order. What tactics were these? TDP MPs led by Nama Nageshwar Rao had sought appointments with the prime minister, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Petroleum Minister Jaipal Reddy — none of which materialised. What actually transpired was that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, of the ruling Congress party, met Manmohan Singh on August 6 and made the point that diverting gas would deprive Andhra Pradesh of fuel for its power plants. The turnaround from the petroleum ministry came within 24 hours of this meeting.
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