TDP to boycott Banswada bypoll

HYDERABAD: Finally, the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has decided to boycott the Banswada byelection. The irony is that the party's decision was announced by the Telangana Telugu Desam Forum and not TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu who kept himself away from Sakala Janula Samme, did not express his views on the ongoing general strike for Telangana cause. He was not inclined to come before the media on Monday to announce that the party was boycotting the Banswada by-election.Generally, Naidu used to announce each and every policy matter of the TDP. Surprisingly, he entrusted the task of announcing the party's decision to boycott the bypoll to the TTDF.Though Naidu held a series of meetings with TTDF leaders on the bypoll, he did not announce the decision as the party president.This is for the first time that the TDP is boycotting an election. When Maoists asked people to boycott elections, Naidu exhorted them to use their democratic right. Now, the TDP itself has boycotted the polls in the thick of T movement.The other day, Naidu held a meeting with T Gouds, where TTDF leaders spewed venom against TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao. As if nothing was happening in Telangana region or in the state, Naidu was busy with other activities. On Tuesday, Naidu will address the TDP state committee meeting where he is likely to speak about rampant corruption and Anna Hazare's crusade to eradicate the social evil.On Wednesday, Naidu will start his threeday district tour of Anantapur and visit the iron ore mines of Gali Janardhan Reddy.Naidu did not even come before the media this time to explain the reasons for the party's decision to boycott the bypoll.