The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh on Friday issued a show-cause notice to Gannavaram MLA Vallabhananeni Vamsi, seeking an explanation over his 'anti-party activities' and expelling him over the same.
TDP disciplinary committee chairman Varla Ramaiah, who issued the notice, said that Vamsi had 15 days to respond, failing which the party would be forced to take further action.
The move came after TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu held an urgent meeting of senior party leaders along with MPs.
There was high drama, as Vamsi met Vijayawada Commissioner of Police Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, even as he was expelled, and filed a complaint. In his representation to the Commissioner, the MLA alleged that TDP leaders and supporters were targeting him on social media and were resorting to abusive comments against him. He sought action against those who were indulging in the abuse.
The show-cause notice came a day after Vamsi, who had submitted his resignation from the TDP a few days ago, told reporters that he would be backing the YSRCP and extended his support to the ruling party.
Irked by this, the TDP may also file a petition with the Speaker, seeking Vamsi's disqualification as a legislator.
As CM Jagan had already declared that his party would not accept any defecting legislators unless they resigned, it remains unclear whether Vamsi would join the YSRCP or support it from outside.
On Thursday, the President of TDP's youth wing 'Telugu Yuvata', Devineni Avinash, quit the party, to join the YSRCP after meeting with Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.
With this, two key leaders from the Kamma community, who are the strongest voter base for the TDP and are mainly present in Vijayawada and Krishna and Guntur districts, have now pledged allegiance to the YSRCP.