Bruised by the defection of 11 legislators so far and indications that more were about to follow suit, YSRCP MLA Roja on Sunday said that the TDP was encouraging this as the ruling party had no leaders of its own.

Roja was addressing a gathering after meeting YSRC Vizag city president Gudivada Amarnath, who was on a fast-unto-death for a separate railway zone at Visakhapatnam.

The police later evicted the MLA during the late hours of Sunday and foiled his fast.

A report in the Deccan Chronicle, quotes Roja as saying:

"Chandrababu Naidu, who fears charges for the cash-for-vote scam, has prostrated before the Union government, leaving the interests of the people of Andhra Pradesh in the air. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who brags that he is a moralistic and credible leader, should seek a fresh mandate for the YSRC defectors. Chandrababu Naidu has been luring the Opposition party leaders by foisting false cases and offering huge packages. If the TD has able leaders, the need wouldn’t have arisen for Mr Amarnath to launch a hunger strike, putting his life at risk."