Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu Sunday denied that there is any power struggle in the family of party founder N. T. Rama Rao, who was popularly known as NTR.
Naidu, son-in-law of NTR, made it clear that party was more important for him. He said while all family members can work for the party, they will get rewarded based on their performance.
"I am the party president. Why are you thinking all these issues? Are you not seeing I am a strong leader," asked Naidu while dismissing reports of power struggle in the family.
"Why ambition when I am there," quipped Naidu when asked about the ambition of NTR's grandson and popular actor Junior NTR.
NTR's elder son N. Harikrishna and grandson Junior NTR are reportedly unhappy with Naidu for grooming his son Lokesh as his successor. Naidu's younger brother-in-law actor N. Balakrishna, whose daughter is married to Lokesh, is siding with him.
Harikrishna is keen to see his son Junior NTR as the next chief of the party.
"Ours is a big family. I wanted to be friendly with all family members. I am very much interested in family. At the same time I am more interested in the party.
"Up to 2004 I was alone after that I wanted to be with everybody in the family. I wanted to take their support. At the same time any problem in the party, I will be firm," said Naidu who was Andhra Pradesh chief minister from 1995 to 2004.
Naidu alleged that Congress was playing dirty politics to widen the chasm between the family members. Without naming his sister-in-law and union minister D. Purandeswari, he questioned how a member of Congress can be permitted to install NTR's statue in parliament. The TDP chief said he kept quiet as his aim was to see the TDP founder's statue in parliament.
On his son Lokesh, Naidu said he was one among many youngsters TDP was attracting to infuse new blood in the party.
"Lokesh is well educated. He is also doing his business. He wanted to come to politics. I said without aspiring for anything he can come and start. It for the cadre and people to decide (on his post)," he said.
The TDP president was confident that the party would return to power in the state in the next year's elections.
He claimed that YSR Congress is confined to certain parts of the state while Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is limited to certain districts in Telangana region.
Naidu said while Congress was in a position to field to candidates, the two parties were don't even have their cadre.
He said the defections of some TDP leaders to YSR Congress and TRS would have no impact on the party, saying they were weak leaders.
He does not believe that Telangana will be an emotional issue in the next elections and pointed out that TRS had an alliance with TDP in 2009 elections.
He also made it clear that TDP would be open for poll alliance only with the two Left parties.
