The maiden visit of former Razole MLA Rapaka Vara Prasada Rao, who joined the BJP recently, to the party district office here on Thursday, got a cold response from the party cadre.
Only a few local party leaders turned up to accord a welcome Mr. Vara Prasada Rao, as the local cadre already staged an agitation against the last-minute joining of the leaders of other parties in to the BJP’s fold. During the recent seat-sharing proceedings post poll-alliance with the BJP, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) allocated the Razole Assembly segment to the saffron party which was immediate followed by induction of the former MLA into the BJP.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Rao, however, maintained that he was not aware of the seat-sharing, saying that he was told by the BJP leadership that the arrangement had not been finalised. “Notwithstanding the allocation of Assembly ticket, I will serve the BJP and work hard for its victory ,” he said.
Shifting loyaltyTo a question on shifting of loyalties, Mr. Rao said that there was no opposition from the public for the shifting of loyalties and he was in no need to answer anyone over the issue. “I may join some other political party. After all, we are in democracy,” he said.
