VIJAYAWADA: Gangula Prabhakar Reddy, defeated TDP candidate from the Allagadda Assembly constituency, joined the YSR Congress in the presence of party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy at the party central office in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
The defection of the Kurnool district political heavyweight Bhuma Nagi Reddy from the YSR Congress to the TDP appears to have changed the equations in the district, forcing Mr. Prabhakar Reddy to switch sides.
The Gangula and Bhuma families have been strong political rivals from the beginning. The admission of Mr. Nagi Reddy into the Telugu Desam made members of the Gangula family uncomfortable. Mr. Prabhakar Reddy joined the YSR Congress along with his three brothers Mohan Reddy, Subhash Reddy and Vijayendra Reddy.
Addressing hundreds of supporters who accompanied their leader, Mr. Jagan said that in movies and epics the villains had the upper hand till the middle. But by the end of the story, justice prevails and good triumphs. This would also happen to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
He said that Mr. Naidu had taken politics in the State to a new low using muscle and money to force elected representatives and other leaders to join his party. He said the “harassment” by Mr. Naidu would come to an end in another year and the word of the people would prevail after the elections.
Two ZPTC members, two MPPs, 35 MPTC members and 37 sarpanches crossed over over from the TDP to the YSRC along with Mr. Prabhakar Reddy. Kurnool MP B. Renuka was present.
