YSR Congress’ Araku Valley MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao is likely to join the Telugu Desam Party.
Mr. Sarveswara Rao, who is in Araku Valley, told the media there on Sunday that he was discussing the issue with his followers and would follow their advice. Mr. Sarveswara Rao said that he was likely to take a decision in a day or two.
In another development, former MLA Gandi Babji will be meeting his supporters at Sabbavaram on Monday to decide his future course of action.
Both Mr. Sarveswara Rao and Mr. Babji are close followers of senior political leader Konathala Ramakrishna, who quit the YSR Congress along with Mr. Babji after the 2014 elections.
Mr. Ramakrishna held important posts in the party and was very close to party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
Mr. Sarveswara Rao will be the first Girijan MLA to crossover to the TDP. Though more than a dozen MLAs have so far joined the ruling party, Mr. Sarveswara Rao’s case is different because he represents the area where the bauxite mining issue continues to agitate the Girijans and environmentalists alike.
Though the State and Central governments are not coming out openly on going ahead with the mining, their acts and statements clearly show that they are keen on it.
Six months ago, a G.O. was issued handing over 1,212 hectares of forest land in the Jerrela area to the AP Mineral Development Corporation as a first step towards bauxite mining.
The TDP, which lost all but one ST constituency in the last elections, is in desperate need of a Girijan MLA from Visakhapatnam to influence the Girijans on the bauxite mining issue.
Though Araku MP Kothapalli Geetha, who won with a huge majority on the YSR Congress ticket, has aligned herself with the TDP, the ruling party sees need for an MLA from the local area to implement its plans.
Mr. Sarveswara Rao, like the Paderu MLA Giddi Eswari, vociferously opposed bauxite mining in line with the YSRC stand.
It has to be seen whether he will continue to stick to his stand or adopt a strategy to convince the people of his constituency, which, however, will be an uphill task given the Girijans’ determination to oppose mining at any cost.
Sarveswara Rao represents the Agency area where bauxite mining is a contentious issue
