metro india news  I amaravati

Andhra Pradesh politics was rocked after an audio clip of Minister Ponguru Narayana surfaced online, revealing sharp internal rifts within the NDA alliance and the TDP’s uneasy handling of its partners. The clip, allegedly from a closed-door party meeting, features Narayana issuing stern warnings to party leaders and making controversial remarks about the tense situation in Pithapuram, where TDP candidate Varma wields strong local influence.

In the viral audio, Narayana cautioned TDP cadre to maintain discipline and refrain from speaking publicly about alliance matters. “This government was formed by three parties. No one should make statements without the permission of the district president or party office,” he warned. The Minister, who oversees the Kakinada Parliament segment, also referred to Pithapuram’s power struggle, stating, “Varma in Pithapuram is very ferocious. Earlier, he won as an Independent after being denied a ticket. The Chief Minister spoke to him and made him zero. He should visit party meetings or constituency meetings only when invited.”

The remark has triggered a political firestorm, with many questioning whether sidelining a strong local leader like Varma could cost the TDP heavily. The leak also exposed TDP’s internal anxiety over managing its NDA allies, especially after recent flare-ups in Nellore, where local leaders traded public barbs over governance issues.

Narayana, in the same meeting, rebuked district leaders for embarrassing the alliance with reckless statements and reminded them that “the Chief Minister has clearly instructed everyone to remain silent on arrests and controversies.”

For the TDP, which has already faced leadership erosion in seats repeatedly allocated to allies, from Visakhapatnam North to Kaikaluru and Vijayawada West, many believe the audio leak is not just an embarrassment, but a stark reminder of the delicate balance the Chandrababu Naidu government must maintain to keep the NDA alliance intact.