Poll shift: 2 YSR Congress MPs join TDP

The YSR Congress managed just eight Lok Sabha seats out of 25 in Seemandhra, while the TDP-BJP combine bagged 17. The TDP also came to power in the state with Naidu on his way to be its first chief minister.

Even before the newly elected Lok Sabha is convened for the first time, defections have started towards the ruling side in Seemandhra. SPY Reddy, the YSR Congress’s Lok Sabha MP has joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the presence of party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu in New Delhi on Sunday.

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Setting stage for entry of another YSR Congress (YSRCP) MP, Butta Renuka, her husband Neelakantam also joined the TDP. The MPs are from Nandyala and Kurnool constituencies which is a stronghold of the YSRCP.

Reddy was a Congress MP in the previous Lok Sabha but joined the YSR Congress before the elections.

Reddy said that he was joining the TDP as being with the ruling side would allow him develop his constituency. Reddy denied any differences with YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy. “(If YSRCP throws me out then) I would re-contest and win with a better majority this time,” Reddy said.

The YSR Congress managed just eight Lok Sabha seats out of 25 in Seemandhra, while the TDP-BJP combine bagged 17. The TDP also came to power in the state with Naidu on his way to be its first chief minister.

Meanwhile, YSRCP leaders are crying foul over the developments.

“Instead of luring our elected representatives unethically, Naidu should focus on delivering on the welfare promises he made to people,” said party MP Mekpati Rajamohan Reddy.