Guntur: Several Congress MLAs from Prakasam district are reportedly making a beeline to join YSR Congress led by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. Even a Telugu Desam MLA is making overtures to join the fledgling party, it is reported.
With the victory of Balineni Srinivas Reddy on YSRCP ticket with a massive majority in recent by-elections, the people’s representatives were having second thoughts over continuing in the Congress.
They fear that they might not be in a position to get reelected on Congress ticket in the ensuing elections and were sending message to the YSRCP that they would join in it if they were assured of a ticket in the polls.
Congress is in doldrums in the district as there is lack of co-ordination between the Minister Maheedhar Reddy and Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasul Reddy. Likewise, there is no love lost between most of the MLAs and the district Minister, rendering the Congress in the district as rudderless ship. There is utter confusion and disinterest among the Congress workers.
At least, four Congress MLAs are negotiating with the YSRCP leaders, it is learnt. Two of them, B Sivaprasad Reddy of Darsi and Gottipati Ravi Kumar of Addanki reportedly had already struck deal in this regard.
As a part of it, Sivaprasad Reddy along with his mother publicly signed on a petition demanding the release of YSRCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy from jail two days ago. Remaining two MLAs still engaged in negotiations, it is reliable learnt. A Telugu Desam MLA also is seriously trying to get in YSR Congress as he feels no prospect of winning in the next elections on the party ticket, it is reliable learnt.
Meanwhile, the YSR Congress leaders are wary of admitting every MLA into the party without estimating their position and popularity in their constituencies. They are also not ready to give firm assurance of giving ticket to them as a precondition.
It is learnt the YSR Congress is of the opinion that if 40-50 MLAs are prepared to join them from Congress, the government would fall. If such number is attained, they want to admit all of them at a public meeting amid much fanfare and then bring down the government with their help during the budget session forcing an early election.
Former Minister and YSR Congress MLA Balineni Srinivas Reddy said several MLAs from Congress in the district evinced interest to join the party. “But we have to see whether they have the support of the people in their constituencies before admitting them, he said.
He hastened to add that final decision about admitting MLAs from other parties would be taken by Jagan.
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