YSR's friends ditch Jagan Mohan Reddy, Telugu Desam exploits situation
YSR's close friend and six-time MP A. Sai Prathap, who was with the Congress for over four decades, has already joined the TD.
Anantapur: In the second phase of desertions in the YSRC camp, many friends of former Chief Minister late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy are ditching his son and party leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. YSRC deputy floor leader Jyothula Nehru has more or less decided to quit the party and join the Telugu Desam.
YSR’s close friend and six-time MP A. Sai Prathap, who was with the Congress for over four decades, has already joined the TD. Mr Prathap told the me-dia that he had requested Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy to induct his son-in-law into the YSRC but the latter didn’t pay heed.
When Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy had left the Congress before his arrest, several of his father’s friends, including Mr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, had stayed back in the Congress and refused to join him. Even YSR’s close aide Suryanarayana Reddy alias Suri has met AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on several occasions and vowed allegiance.
Many YSRC MLAs and those who were defeated in elections are said to be in financial distress and debts as they had spent huge amounts in the last elections and there are no “revenues” for them now. Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s refusal to help the candidates who are in distress and bail them out financially has created conditions for the TD to exploit.
For instance, Mr Jupudi Prabhakar Rao, who lost in Prakasam, had spent his own money and his interests were not taken care of by the party. Mr Rao left the YSRC for the TD and got a post.
“Foisting of cases by the ruling TD, lack of funds for the development of constituencies held by Opposition MLAs and no provision to earn money had resulted in MLAs leaving us,” said a YSRC MLA from Rayalaseema.
Mr Nehru on Monday said, “I will announce my decision soon.”
Several MLAs who defected to the TD are now openly commenting about losing faith on the YSRC leadership.