On a day when Nara Lokesh is touring Kadapa district, YSRCP MLA from Badvel (SC) Thiriveedhi Jayaramulu joined TDP. He joined the party in the presence of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu at Vijayawada camp office on Wednesday, amid the talk that TDP has targeted a minimum of four MLAs from the district. Jayaramulu won the Badvel constituency by defeating the ND Vijayajyothy of TDP by a margin of 9502 votes in 2014.

According to party sources two more YSRC MLAs are likely to switch loyalties. If TDP sources are to be believed  two MLAs are in touch with the party. Of them, one belongs to the weaker sections while the other a Reddy.

Jayaramulu’s desertion is a shock to the YSRCP because the party has started declaring that there would be no more desertions from the party after Bhuma and his daughter from Rayalaseema.

Talking to media at Vijayawada, Jayaramulu said, he chose to join the TDP as it would give him an opportunity to develop the constituency. He said Badvel was a backward region in the district and needs governmental support.

” I am convinced that chief minister will take steps to develop my constituency. He clearly told me that he had plans to develop Rayalaseema. Having been convinced of his commitment, I decided to join Telugu Desam party,” he said.

If necessary, he said,  he would resign and seek fresh mandate.

He, however, refused to comment on the charge that MLAs were leaving YSRC because the ruling party was intimidating the opposition MLAs with police cases. ” I don’t want to comment on cases. I joined the party purely for the development of the constituency. It is true, I do get funds as an MLA from the Opposition party. However, I feel, joining the TDP is the best for full scale development,” he said.