The exodus from the Congress appears to be continuing with many top leaders of the party switching loyalties to other political outfits. The speculation is rife among the political circles that former Minister for Secondary Education Kolusu Parthasarathi is likely to join the YSR Congress.
According to sources, the Congress minister initially have planned to move to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and then thought of joining former Chief Minister Mr. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s Jai Samaikyandhra Party. While in the former, he faced a stiff opposition; in the latter he felt that the chances were bleak. He is now negotiating with the YSRC, said sources.
‘Yet to take a call’However, Mr. Parthasarthi denied any such moves. Speaking to The Hindu , he said, I will not contest on Congress ticket that is for sure as my party workers do not want me to do so. For Vuyyuru municipality election, I have fielded all my candidates for 20 wards as independents, he said. “I shall go by what my followers say and I have yet to take a call on this,” he said.
However, sources within the YSRC said that the former Minister has pitched in for Machilipatnam MP seat. The YSRC is yet to decide on Machilipatnam seat and already has K. Vidyasagar, son of former ZP Chairman Kukkala Nageswara Rao, waiting in the wings.
Another senior YSRC leader informed The Hindu that Mr. Parthasarathi was also weighing the option for an MLA ticket from Penamaluru or Kaikaluru.
