Senior TDP leader Karanam Balaram Krishnamurthy has expressed concern over Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu admitting into the party YSR Congress MLA from Addanki Gottipati Ravikumar, his bete noire in politics in the faction-ridden constituency. Mr. Krishnamurthy skipped the function organised at Vijayawada to formally admit the three-time MLA into the ruling party.
“I am not bothered about the entry of turncoats into the party. I am more worried about the welfare of the TDP workers, who faced untold hardship during the 10-year Congress rule,” said the TDP strongman, who was defeated by Mr. Ravikumar in the 2009 elections.
Mr. Krishnamurthy’s son Karanam Venkatesh was also defeated by Mr. Ravikumar in the 2014 elections.
Quoting Mr. Naidu, the TDP farmers’ wing State president, who called on the Chief Minister along with Mr. Venkatesh late on Tuesday night, said that the admission of the YSR Congress MLA into the party was part of the strategy to dilute the winning chances of the YSRC in the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections. Mr. Naidu reportedly promised to take care of the interests of party cadre and Mr. Venkatesh, who is the party in-charge of the constituency. Replying to a question, the former MP called for enactment of a law to fix a time frame for the Speaker to decide on petitions seeking disqualification of defecting legislators.
