Irked Naidu may deny Renuka another RS term

HYDERABAD, MARCH 11: With the focus shifting from the Lok Sabha polls to the biennial election to the Rajya Sabha in Andhra Pradesh, questions are being raised over the chances of Union Minister Renuka Chowdhary getting a renomination.

While Telugu Desam circles are discussing her reported remarks about supporting a BJP government at the Centre, she has taken pains to convince the party leadership that she made no such comment. Renuka even videotaped the Star TV version to support her denial. Party sources said this is not the only time when TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu objected to her remarks. He was angry with Renuka for starting a war of words with Rajya Sabha colleague and Telugu Mahila president Jayaprada. Later, when she was denied the Rajahmundry Lok Sabha nomination, she grumbled that women were being given a raw deal by Naidu.

Renuka says that “vested interests” are trying to project differences between her and Naidu. “I don’t think the chief minister will take intoconsideration a statement which I did not make and then weigh it against my loyalty to the party,” she said.