Seat next to Naidu's jinxed?

VV Balakrishna I ENS
Hyderabad, January 1:
THE seat next to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's in the State Assembly has once again brought `bad luck' to the party.
After the TDP was dethroned from power in the 2004 elections, T Devender Goud, home minister in Naidu's cabinet, used to sit next to him in the Opposition benches. For almost four years, they sat side by side. Goud, who was deputy floor leader of the party, quit the TDP and floated his own Nava Telangana Party.
After Goud's exit, there was a tussle among TDP MLAs to occupy the seat next to Naidu's. Several seniors vied with one another for the privilege.
After much discussion, Naidu decided to elevate senior leader Kala Venakta Rao as deputy floor leader. No sooner did Rao occupy the seat than rumours went round the Assembly lobbies that he too would quit the party.
TDP leaders laughed it off saying that Venkata Rao was more loyal to the party. Venkata Rao, known as sober and softspoken, sprang a surprise today by quitting the party. And the seat next to Naidu's in the Assembly continues to remain `jinxed'.