In a jolt to the ruling TDP ahead of the elections, its MLC Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy quit the party on Thursday to join the YSR Congress Party.
Announcing his resignation from the TDP as also to his MLC post, Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy told the media here that he would strengthen the hands of YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in deference to the wishes of his supporters.
Ties with YSR
Recalling his family's close ties with the former Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, he said amid loud cheers from his followers that he would henceforth sail with Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The three-time MP submitted his resignation to the post of TDP national vice-president to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and from the primary membership of the party to State president K. Kala Venkata Rao.
The resignation followed an “assurance” from the YSRCP leadership that he would be fielded from the Ongole Lok Sabha constituency.
Survey findings
He is the second leader from the TDP to cross over to the YSRCP after Chirala MLA Amanchi Krishnamohan joined the opposition party.
Internal surveys conducted by Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy had indicated that it would be a cakewalk for him if he contested from the parliamentary seat on the YSRCP ticket and that he would have to sweat it out if he continued in the ruling party.
The Magunta family has been ruling the roost in Prakasam district ever since the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, brought Subbrammai Reddy, the elder brother of Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy, into politics.
The winning streak of Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy, who had crossed over from the Congress to the TDP on the eve of the elections in 2014, was ended by YSRCP candidate Y.V. Subba Reddy then.
However, Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy won the Council elections held later with local body representatives, cutting across party lines, including those from the YSRCP, backing him.
Sidda’s supporters upset
Meanwhile, the supporters of Forest Minister Sidda Raghava Rao staged a demonstration in front of the residence of Mr. Naidu demanding that their leader be allowed to contest again from his home constituency of Darsi after media reports indicated that the leadership wanted him to contest from the Ongole parliamentary constituency to fill the vacuum caused by the exit of Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy.
