YSRCP MPs Vemireddy Prabhakara Reddy, Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu, MLA Arani Srinivas may join TDP soon

AMARAVATHI: Several YSR Congress leaders who have been denied tickets or the party refused to concede their demands are contemplating quitting the party.

To top the list is Rajya Sabha member Vemireddy Prabhakara Reddy who has been tipped to contest from the Nellore Lok Sabha seat on behalf of the YSR Congress. While he officially requested the party to change three candidates from three Assembly segments under the Nellore Lok Sabha seat, the party reportedly rejected the idea.

However, the reality is that he wants his wife to be fielded from Nellore Urban Assembly seat to which Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy did not agree.

Against this background, he began discussion with his close associates and followers on Wednesday on leaving the party. He reportedly told his followers that he was facing humiliation in the YSR Congress. Meanwhile, former minister and TDP leader Pongurur Narayana, and a few other TDP leaders too met him.

He is expected to come up with his decision soon.

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Meanwhile, Narasaraopet MP Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu who had resigned from the YSR Congress on being asked to contest from Guntur Lok Sabha seat is likely to meet Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu to join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Along with him, senior YSR Congress leaders – MLC Janga Krishna Murthy and former MLA Makkena Mallikarjuna Rao (Vinukonda) – would also join the TDP.

Chittoor MLA Arani Srinivasulu, who was denied renomination, is also considering moving out of the YSRCP and join the TDP. A new incharge Vijayanand Reddy was named for the Chittoor Assembly constituency by the ruling party. Arani Srinivasulu is the lone MLA in Rayalaseema belonging to Balija community. Though YS Jagan promised Srinivasulu that he would be accommodated in Rajya Sabha, he was “ditched”, say sources quoting Balija community leaders in the district.

Angered by the decision of the party, Srinivasulu is trying to woo 15 corporators, ZPTC and MPTC members to join him in crossing over to the TDP.

Simmering discontent over the social engineering policy being pursued by YS Jagan and also the denial of tickets keeping winnability factor as the criteria has irked many of the aspirants who wanted to retain their seats.