Telugu Desam MLA offered me Rs 10 crore to cross vote, says Rapaka

KAKINADA: Ever since the ruling YSR Congress suffered humiliation in the MLC elections by losing a seat to TD nominee P Anuradha, allegations fly around that bribes of Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore were offered to YSRC MLAs to do cross-voting in favour of TD.

Adviser to state government Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy made the allegation first. Razole MLA Rapaka Varaprasad, who was elected on Jana Sena symbol and later switched his allegiance to the ruling YSRC, followed this up with a vague claim on Sunday that he was offered Rs 10 crore to vote in favour of Anuradha. He quickly changed this version to "some financial help"

He told a YSRC workers’ meeting at Antarvedi that the Undi TD MLA Manthena Rama Raju made the offer to his friend KS Raju of Malkipuram. “KS Raju made it clear that I am an honest politician and hence he will not broach the subject with me,” he claimed.

Varaprasad claimed, “I would have been richer by Rs 10 crore if I had succumbed to the offer from TD. But I will not do such things.” This video became viral in social media. Later, Varaprasad “clarified” that the TD MLA did not offer a particular amount to him. “TD MLA Rama Raju promised that the TD would help me financially and ensure me a good political future if I voted for the TD candidate. I simply refused his offer.”

Varaprasad said the TD MLA made the offer while he was in the assembly lobby. Meanwhile, MLA Rama Raju laughed away the claim of the Razole MLA. “He had already switched his allegiance from Jana Sena to YSRC,” Rama Raju pointed out.

Rama Raju told Deccan Chronicle that he did not meet Varaprasad with any such offer. “TD already has 23 MLAs. So why should we seek votes from other parties? Varaprasad is making such claims to improve his image and gain some political clout with the ruling party," he said.

The TD MLA said he knew KS Raju and many more Rajus in Bhimavaram. “I exchanged pleasantries with him in the assembly lobby.”