Congress and TDP leaders from the city and district joined the YSR Congress on Wednesday.
Visakha West MLA Malla Vijaya Prasad and DCC president Karanam Dharmasri joined YSRC in the presence of its president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy in Hyderabad. The Tangedu family in the district, including MLC D.V. Suryanarayana Raju, announced its decision to join the YSRC.
The wife, son, and younger brother of former Minister late Gudivada Gurunadha Rao also joined the YSRC in the presence of Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy.
Gurunadha Rao’s son Amarnath, a former corporator of the TDP, would contest from Anakapalle for the Lok Sabha, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy announced in Hyderabad while admitting Mr. Amarnath, his mother Nagamani, and uncle Appala Ramamurthy into the party.
Senior party leader Konathala Ramakrishna also made a similar statement in Anakapalle at a programme held in the town to mark his younger brother Raghunath’s entry into the party.
Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy announced in Hyderabad that Mr. Raghunath would be the party’s candidate for Anakapalle Assembly seat.
The Gudivada family quit the Congress and joined TDP during the 2004 elections when Ms. Nagamani was denied party ticket for Pendurti. As TDP failed to promise the family party ticket for the ensuing elections, it decided to join the YSRC.
Mr. Vijaya Prasad was reportedly assured of party ticket from one of the city constituencies.
His switch over to the YSR Congress was delayed as he was not sure of the party’s ticket from Visakha West after senior leader Dadi Veerabhadra Rao’s son was assured of the ticket from this Assembly segment. Mr. Vijaya Prasad had reportedly received an assurance from Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy during a one-on-one talk with him.
Regarding Mr. Dharmasri, who had lost narrowly at Chodavaram during the last election, it has to be seen if he could get party ticket for the same seat since former Minister Balireddy Satya Rao joined the party long time ago as soon as he completed his term as DCCB president.
The Tangedu family announced its decision to quit the Congress and join YSRCP at a press conference at its native village on Wednesday. Mr. Satyanarayana Raju, former president of DCCB R.S. Ramachandra Raju, and former chairman of Etikoppaka sugar factory R.S. Ramabhadra Raju and their followers decided to join YSRCP.
They left for Hyderabad to meet Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy.
