Dr.Daggubati Venkateswara Rao - August 24th, 1995

This is the excerpt from the book The Other Side of Truth by Dr.Daggubati Venkateswara Rao.

The moment I arrived at the airport around 40 MLAs surrounded me. All of them uttered the same thing...that I should go to the Hotel Viceroy. I did not reply them, but reached my house 'en route' to Mr.Rama Rao's. When I reached home, I saw Mr.Chandrababu Naidu already sitting in the hall...I was told that Mr.Harikrishna and Mr.Balakrishna too came to my house an hour ago.

Some more MLAs along with the Principal Secretary, Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan, Mr.Chalameswara Rao [Now the Chief Justice of Assam], Mr.Ramesh [Vijaya Electricals], Mr.Durgaprasad [IG, Intelligence] and the party secretary, Mr.Bhujanga Rao were also there. As soon as I came home, Mr.Chandrababu Naidu and I were closeted in a room in the upstairs without the presence of anybody. Mr.Chandrababu Naidu narrated what all had happened and requested me to come to Hotel Viceroy.

He expressed his desire to enjoy in dual posts...both as the Chief Minister and the party President. He also suggested that I should be the Deputy Chief Minister and Mr.Harikrishna, the General Secretary of the party. After the discussion, we came out of the room. Mr.Chalameswara Rao, Mr.Ramesh and Mr.Harikrishna together wanted to know the salient features of our discussion. I revealed them everything in detail...Immediately Mr.Harikrishna expressed his desire to become a minister for which I replied that he could be the Deputy Chief Minister, as I was not interested in joining the ministry. I also requested them not to reveal anything to Mr.Chandrababu Naidu, who went downstairs then...We too all came down.

At that point of time...Mrs.Purandeswari was at the dining table. Seated along with her were Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan, Mr.Durgaprasad and Mr.Bhujanga Rao besides Mr.Jayasankara Krishna [the last son of Mr.Rama Rao]. All of them were unanimous in requesting me against going to the Hotel Viceroy.

Mrs.Purandeswari having been pained...was very much in tears...! She requested me not to be against her father. Mr.Jayasankara Krishna abused and cursed me...Unmindful of those unfortunate and unpleasant happenings, I left for the Hotel Viceroy...But, now I feel and repent...that was the most unpardonable...the greatest and the biggest sin...I have ever committed so far in my life.

Meanwhile, Mr.Chandrababu Naidu with his expertise art of concoction was busy spreading 'Gobble's propaganda' that my wife had been encouraging me since that day. But as I narrated earlier, the truth was Mrs.Purandeswari requested me over and again not to do injustice to her father...the eyewitnesses to that incident were: Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan, Mr.Durgaprasad and Mr.Jayasankara Krishna, who were present there along with Mr.Bhujanga Rao [no more now]. As soon as I left for the Hotel Viceroy, Mrs.Purandeswari left for Mr.Rama Rao's house, which was near by. The next day also...she spent most of her time with her father...What more evidence was required to prove that she did not take sides and encourage me?

Particularly on that day...Mr.Rama Rao seemed to have narrated Mrs.Purandeswari painfully and with deeply agonised heart: "It's okay...Mr.Chandrababu Naidu and Mr.Venkateswara Rao who have been locking horns against each other, joined together at least to usurp this old man out of power. Your husband is very emotional and innocent...He'll be made to believe now but finally they'll make him a scape-goat...Let the party be entrusted with Mr.Harikrishna...then only, Mr.Chandrababu Naidu's true colours could be seen."