Jaganmohan Reddy’s YSR Congress suffered a massive jolt in Telangana, following his decision to launch three-day fast against two Telangana irrigation projects, Palamuru-Rangareddy and Didndi.
Stating that the decision was against the interests of Telangana people, the lone Lok Sabha member from the state Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has decided to quit the party. Along with party colleague and MLA Payam Venkateswarlu, Reddy is expected to join the ruling TRS in a day or two.
Jagan announced on Saturday that he would sit on a three-day fast in Kurnool from May 16 against the construction of Palamuru-Ranga Reddy and Dindi Projects on Krishna river in the upper reaches of Srisailam Dam.
He criticised both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments for the projects which he said would permanently rob eight districts-four Rayalaseema, and Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna- of their rightful share of Krishna water.
Jagan said these projects were illegal and AP CM Chandrababu Naidu had allowed these projects in order to escape from being prosecuted by T-CM Chandrasekhar Rao in ‘note for vote’ case.
“Infuriated” at Jagan’s decision, Srinivas Reddy had a meeting with Telangana IT minister KT Ramarao yesterday to fix the muhurtam for his cross-over to TRS. TRS Supremo and chief minister Chandrasekhar Rao is said have cleared his admission to the party.
On Monday both Reddy and Venkateswarlu are meeting their followers in their constituencies and announce their decision officially later. Since they are the one-member legislature parties, it is easy for them to merge with ruling party by writing a letter to their respective speaker in Lok Sabha and Assembly requesting to treat them as the members of TRS.
In fact, Srinivasa Reddy has been toying with the idea of switching loyalties in view of his business interests in Telangana. He is a well known contractor. The TRS is said to have offered enough works in the state which is under ” reconstruction” after achieving statehood if joins the party.
With this YSRC will become extinct in Assembly and parliament. This is happening when political circles are of the opinion that TRS and YSRC have been enjoy comfortable relations.
YSRC decision not to field any candidate in the GHMC election was seen as a indirect support to the TRS. But, last week, Jagan extended support to Congress candidate Sucharita Reddy, in Palair byelection.
The decision to support Congress was announced by none other than Srinivasa Reddy. His portrait is still afresh on the Congress campaign posters in the constituency. In a way Srinivasa Reddy’s decision is a setback to Congress as well.
KCR is said to have disappointed by the Jagan’s decision on Palair. And the proverbial last straw is Jagan’s opposition to Palamuru-RR and Dindi Projects. Admission of YSRC members into TRS is seen as the reaction of KCR to Jagan’s fast.
YSRC was the worst sufferer in the division of Andhra Pradesh, which the party had opposed tooth and nail. Despite considerable support the party enjoyed before division, YSRC won just three MLAs and one MP from the state. This forced Jagan to play second fiddle to TRS to prevent his members from being poached by TRS. But, this did not stop his party MLAs to look towards treasury benches. Jagan lost two MLAs Madanlal and Thati Venktateswarlu to TRS in September 2014 itself.
