Devender Goud likely to enter into Chiru train

Rumors in political circles are spreading wild that Telugu Desam leader T Devender Goud on the Telengana issue. Mr Goud was isolated in the five-member committee meeting on the Telangana issue, which was held in Vizianagaram district on Wednesday. However, Desam spokesman and Rajya Sabha member Mr M.V. Mysoora Reddy, refuted the charges that Mr Goud was singled out in the five-member committee meeting. Grapevine has it that Mr Goud plans to join hands with megastar Chiranjeevi. However, he said this may happen if the Desam chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, does not spell out a clear-cut decision on the state’s bifurcation and the megastar Chiranjeevi takes pro- Telangana stand. For the time being, Mr Goud will put pressure on Mr Naidu. Mr Goud who was reportedly annoyed with the Desam T-committee deliberations, kept himself away from media glare on Thursday. He did not even visit the NTR Bhavan. Senior leaders, Mr Ch. Rajeswara Rao and Mr E. Peddi Reddy, called on Mr Goud at his residence. Sources said Mr Goud also expressed his displeasure over the Desam chief's time-buying attitude. Mr Goud reportedly told his colleagues that the Desam should take a pro-Telangana stance, before Chiranjeevi launches his party. If TD does not take a stand now it will affect the party’s prospects in Telangana, Mr Goud felt. Interestingly, after meeting Mr Goud, Mr Rajeswara Rao raised his voice over the Telangana issue. He said, “Separation is inevitable. I believe in an integrated state, but considering the aspirations of the people of Telangana, I support separate statehood. Telugu Desam has to take this line. There is no other alternative.” He said he had mentioned the reasons for a separate Telangana state in his report, which was submitted to the Desam chief by Mr Devender.