YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Rajya Sabha members Mopidevi Venkataramana and Beeda Mastan Rao have submitted their resignations to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar at New Delhi on Thursday (August 29, 2024).
The resignations were handed in despite both members not being due for retirement from the House any time soon. Mr. Venkataramana is due for retirement on June 21, 2026, while Mr. Rao is set to retire on June 21, 2028.
Mr. Venkataramana is likely to join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). It is reported that he was not keen on Rajya Sabha post from the start, but it was thrust on him. He was defeated in the 2019 elections but was inducted into then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s cabinet. As the State government at the time decided to abolish the AP Legislative Council, he was made an RS member.
Mr. Venkataramana hoped to contest from Repalle constituency in the 2024 general elections but was denied a ticket. Mr. Jagan Reddy also reportedly did not accept the request to field Mr. Venkataramana’s brother instead of Evuru Ganesh from Repalle Assembly constituency.
Mr. Venkataramana later met his cadre and sympathisers at his constituency, and also announced that he had discussions with TDP leaders over joining their party.
Mr. Mastan Rao is yet to announce his future plans.
Six more YSRCP RS members likely to resign
According to sources, six more YSRCP RS members are likely to submit their resignations shortly. The YSRCP has 11 members in the Upper House in the Parliament, including the two who resigned today.
In June, soon after the drubbing in the general elections, Mr. Jagan Reddy reminded the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that his party has 15 MPs in Parliament, while asserting that his party will extend issue-based support keeping the State and nation’s interests in mind. The current resignations, and likely of six more resignations, and disgruntlement in the party may mar his plans to wield pressure on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is keen on increasing its strength in the Rajya Sabha.
After the YSRCP came to power in the state in 2019, YSRCP leaders were elected to the Rajya Sabha in all 11 seats in the three-phase elections. In terms of numerical strength, it became the fourth largest party in the Rajya Sabha.
The retirement of the YSRCP RS members is scheduled up to April 1, 2030. The retirement of three members, including Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy, Parimal Nathwani and Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, are due on June 21, 2026. S. Niranjan Reddy, V. Vijayasai Reddy and. Krishnaiah in June 2028. The remaining members — Y.V. Subba Reddy, Meda Raghunadha Reddy and Golla Baburao — will retire in April 2030.
