It is number 15 in the 'defection' order as Srisailam MLA Budda Rajashekar Reddy crossed over to the Telugu Desam (TDP) from YSR Congress.

At the "auspicious" time of 9:05 am, Rajashekar met TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the latter's riverfront residence on Thursday and got the yellow scarf adorned, marking his admission into the ruling party.

Rajashekar was also the Kurnool district unit president of YSRC. He is the fourth MLA of YSRC from Kurnool district to defect to the TDP.

In fact, the defection of legislators from the lone opposition party to the ruling party started with two MLAs from Kurnool district on February 22.

Now, four MLAs in all have crossed over to the TDP, reducing the YSRC strength in the district to seven. Kurnool district had been one of the bastions of the YSRC but now it appears to be crumbling.