A Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday announced her decision to join the YSR Congress party. Killi Kruparani, also a former Union Minister, called on YSRCP chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy at the latter's Lotus Pond residence in Hyderabad and conveyed her decision to join the party formally at Amaravati on February 28.
Kruparani told the media later that she was impressed with the sops promised by Jaganmohan Reddy for the backward classes, while opposing the Congress's alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
She also alleged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of taking a u-turn on the issue of Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.
Kruparani was elected to the Lok Sabha from Srikakulam constituency in 2009 but lost the polls in 2014 to TDP candidate Rammohan Naidu.
Kruparani’s announcement comes amid political developments where several leaders have defected to the YSRCP in the state.
On Monday, Amalapuram MP Pandula Ravindra Babu quit the ruling TDP party and joined YSRCP. Ravindra Babu resigned from his MP seat and as well the party. This came just four days after Anakapalle MP Srinivas Rao joined hands with Jaganmohan Reddy.
Along with Ravindra Babu, another Congress leader Channadas joined the YSRCP on Monday.
Earlier this month, sitting Chirala legislator from the TDP, Amanchi Krishna Mohan, also met with Jagan and jumped to the YSRCP. Amanchi said that he would join the YSRCP soon after weeks of political ambiguity and negotiations. He alleged that he was leaving the TDP as ‘unrelated’ people were intervening in the activities in Chirala.
Amanchi is the second sitting MLA to desert the TDP, with just months to go for simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the state, after former Minister Ravela Kishore Babau quit the ruling party last year, to join Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, alleging casteism and discrimination in the TDP.
IANS inputs