55 YSRCP MLAs in touch: Poaching case accused reveal plot to topple AP govt

HYDERABAD: The covert apparatus aimed at demolishing democratically-elected State Governments, which came to the fore during the recent expose of TRS MLAs' poachgate, has its tentacles spread far and wide. After the TRS government in Telangana, the YSRCP regime in Andhra Pradesh happens to be the one that faces the most imminent threat from this backdoor demolition network, as per the startling revelations made by the accused in the poaching case during their interrogation.

The accused in the case, Ramachandra Bharati alias Satisha Sharma, Simhayaji and Nanda Kumar, reportedly spoke of a plot to topple the YSRCP government by targeting at least 70 of its MLAs. The revelations were made during their questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed by the Telangana Government, which is probing the case in full swing to get to the bottom of the entire conspiracy.

What stunned even the investigators were the treacherous means allegedly being adopted for this purpose while appearing to be maintaining friendly and cordial relations with Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jaganmohan Reddy. It is learnt that, during interrogation, the accused spilled the beans on concerted and discreet efforts to bring down the State Government in the coastal state.

The SIT, which is grilling the three accused besides taking their voice samples in the last few days, is video-recording their statements, as a matter of procedure. According to sources in SIT, the accused came up with several chilling details pertaining to BJP's focus on Andhra Pradesh, which is regarded as part of a bigger roadmap to topple governments in three other states ruled by non-BJP parties.

According to these details, the accused reportedly admitted to have devised plans to lure as many MLAs of the YSRCP as possible with heavy enticements. As per their claims, the BJP, which has not won even a single Assembly seat in the 2019 elections, has plotted to poach at least 70 YSRCP MLAs and it is learnt that the brokers discreetly working for the BJP had already got in touch with 55 of them.

The revelation came in as a big shocker, given the cordiality of the relations between YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at least in public. Narendra Modi often greets YS Jagan with a tight hug during public appearances.

The BJP, which has already assumed power through the backdoor by bringing down governments in eight states, is ready to spend money like water to pursue the same policy in other non-BJP ruled states. The saffron party is accused of spending a whopping Rs 12,515 crores to successfully engineer splits in ruling parties in the eight states.

Looking to implement the same, dangerous agenda in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan besides Telangana, the party leadership is alleged to have decided to spend anywhere between Rs 50-100 crores for every MLA, based on their prominence clout, to buy their loyalties in these states.

The accused, during the SIT probe, reportedly revealed that a master plan had been chalked out to spend Rs 15,000 crores more to poach 134 MLAs from these states. Comprehensive lists of the likely targets (MLAs) were also reportedly prepared for this purpose. More alarmingly, negotiations have already been reportedly initiated with 55 MLAs in Andhra Pradesh, 43 in Delhi and 21 in Rajasthan, as per the statements made by the accused to the SIT.