In a setback to the TDP, Amanchi Krishnamohan, independent MLA from Chirala who had associated himself with the ruling party in the Assembly, resigned from the TDP on Wednesday to join the Opposition YSRCP.
After forwarding his resignation letter to TDP national president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Mr. Krishnamohan called on YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in Hyderabad, and expressed his eagerness to contest from Chirala on the YSRCP ticket.
In a last-ditch effort recently, Environment Minister S. Ragava Rao held parleys with Mr. Krishnamohan and arranged for a meeting with the Chief Minister. But his efforts failed break the ice.
Mr. Krishnamohan was allegedly upset with “certain forces” in the party carrying out activities without his knowledge and involvement.
Karanam deputed
Taking stock of the development, Mr. Naidu asked senior party leader Karnam Balarama Krishnamurthy to stem the rot. TDP MLC Pothula Sunitha, who lost to Mr. Krishnamohan in the 2014 elections, quickly held a meeting with the party workers and proposed to organise a public meeting in Chirala on Thursday as a show of strength.
Mr. Krishnamohan was unhappy with the leadership for giving prominence to Ms. Sunitha by nominating her to the post of MLC and later making her the head of the women’s wing of the party State unit.
He accused Mr. Naidu of changing his stances on various issues frequently.
Meanwhile, supporters of Chirala YSRCP in-charge Y. Balaji staged a road blockade at the Clock Tower centre and burnt tyres in protest against the party admitting a “turncoat,” ignoring the efforts of Mr. Balaji in the last four years much against odds.
