ANANTAPUR: In a major jolt to the Telugu Desam, especially ahead of the Nandyal byelection, Mr Shilpa Chakrapani Reddy, recently elected as MLC under local bodies’ quota on a TD ticket, is all set to defect to the YSRC to support his brother Shilpa Mohan Reddy, the YSRC candidate in the bypoll.
It is a peculiar situation for YSRC Kurnool district leaders to entertain defection of elected representatives from other parties, because it has a tradition of inviting leaders who quit their posts.
Mr Chakrapani Reddy was elected two months ago after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu initiated a move to attract voters from other parties.
His brother Mohan Reddy had quit the TD when differences arose over the nomination for the Nandyal Assembly bypoll following the death of MLA Bhuma Nagi Reddy.
Mr Chakrapani Reddy had kept himself away from campaign for the past few days because there was no invitation from TD leaders. Speculation is that Mr Chakrapani Reddy will defect on August 3 during the visit of YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to Nandyal.
