Nuzvid YSR CP MLA Meka Pratap Apparao today denied the reports that he was leaving the party to join ruling Telugu Desam. There has been speculation that he had been contacted by the TDP and the senior MLA would be next to leave the party.

The fact that three YSRC MLAs are set to join the TDP in the next four days had given credence to the speculation. While Gudur MLA Sunil Kumar and Prathipadu MLA V Subbarao will join the TDP tomorrow, YSRC deputy leader Jyothula Nehru receive Yellow kanduva on April 11.

Against this backdrop Meka Pratap Apparao denied the reports of his defection to TDP as malicious. He slammed rumors and made it clear that he would not leave YSRCP as long as he was alive.

He dismissed the reports that he son had met chief minister Chandrababu Naidu as rumor. ” It was the malicious propaganda by the Yellow party and its affiliated yellow papers. I haven’t done any wrong any time, and where is the need to get deterred by the government,” he asked. He dared his detractors to prove if his son had really met chief minister.

On the other side, Telugu Desam party is seriously trying to persuade few more MLAs from YSRCP before the notification for the Rajya Sabha elections issued by the Election commission of India next month. According to sources TDP mediators have been in touch at least another 10 members from the opposition party. If the outright defection is not possible, it said, the party is encouraging them to cross-vote in the RS elections, which are normally held without a whip. Sources said the MLAs are being assured full protection from any action by the YSRC leadership. The idea behind the strategy is to ensure that TDP won all the four seats. YSRC is sure get one seat without any trouble with its strength of 59 or 56 even after some future defections. It’s strength has come has fallen from 67 to 59 now. By next week it will come down to 56.