YSRC seniors attempt to join BJP

Hyderabad: The Telugu Desam and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance is likely to face a litmus test following desperate attempts by a few senior leaders of the YSRC who are accused of corruption to seek asylum in the saffron party.

The BJP, according to sources, has in principle decided to open its doors for those crossing the floor, with the bar only for leaders facing criminal charges like rape and murder.

An MP from Rayalaseema, who is known for his proximity to YSRC supremo and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and is facing serious allegations of indulging in large-scale corruption and mobilising party funds, has contacted the BJP central leadership.

Another MP with a foot-in-mouth attitude has also been making desperate attempts to split the parliamentary party and join the BJP.

For Jagan Mohan Reddy too, it is a testing time with several party leaders including those who lost the Assembly elections questioning the leadership’s failure. While some openly blamed the loss on Jagan Mohan Reddy, others targeted the highly controversial bureaucrat K. Dhanunjay Reddy who was chosen by the former chief minister to be his eyes and ears.

After much dilly-dallying, the YSRC leadership convened the meeting of its legislators and contestants in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls on Friday. Speculation was rife on whether all the contestants would be present. The four MPs of the party were exempted from the meeting in view of the beginning of the newly-constituted Lok Sabha session.

“The then Rajya Sabha members of the Telugu Desam merged the parliamentary party of the Upper House with the BJP post the 2019 elections. Similarly, YSRC MPs are exploring the possibilities, perhaps for their political survival,” said a senior party leader.

Sources in the BJP said a decision was taken in the recent state office-bearers meeting on June 9 to initiate ‘Operation Akarsh’ and, to the surprise of allies, the BJP set its eyes on disgruntled leaders of the Telugu Desam and the Jana Sena also along with those from the YSRC.

“District unit presidents were asked not to promise leaders from other parties admission into the BJP. Names shall be forwarded to state president D. Purandeswari and Madhukar, sanghatan mantri (general secretary deputed from the RSS), who in turn will consult the Central leadership and allow them to join,” sources pointed out.

The TD, on the other hand, is closely observing the developments and pinning its hopes on “coalition dharma”.