Ousted from TDP for his remarks on the party’s leadership, senior Telangana politician Motkupalli Narasimhulu is back in the news. On Thursday, YSRCP General Secretary Vijaya Sai Reddy met with the leader at his residence in Hyderabad. So is Narasimhulu being wooed by Jagan Mohan Reddy’s party?
According to reports, the purpose of the meeting was more immediate, and YSRCP has communicated to Narasimhulu that they have a common goal with him.
Narasimhulu, who was expelled from the TDP at the end of May, has been consistently speaking out against the party and its leadership – and just this week, he announced that he will be forming a new party, Praja Vedika, and will also be contesting as an independent from Alair constituency.
He also that he would pay a visit to the Tirupati Tirumala temple, despite having leg pains, to pray for the defeat of TDP in Andhra – and Vijay Sai Reddy reportedly informed him that his Tirumala visit will have the YSRCP’s support.
Apparently Vijaya Sai had also invited the Dalit leader to join in Jagan’s 'Praja Sankalpa Yatra' – and while Narasimhulu was unavailable to comment on the development, speaking to TNM Vijaya Sai Reddy said, "He has expressed his solidarity with Jagan’s Yatra, he will come to Praja Sankalpa Yatra for one day."
When asked if Narasimhulu will join YSRCP, he said, "He will not be joining our party. But he has expressed his solidarity with us."
Meanwhile, the TDP alleged that the YSRCP was working at the behest of the BJP. The party’s official spokesperson Lanka Dinakar said, “The BJP is using Motkupalli Narasimhulu to attack Chandrababu Naidu, and to support that plot as per BJP orders, Vijaya Sai Reddy has met Narasimhulu and spewed venom against TDP and Naidu."
Earlier, in May, after he made hard hitting allegations against Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu, Narasimhulu was expelled from the TDP. At that time, the party said he was expelled for "indiscipline and levelling baseless allegations against the party leadership."
Narasimhulu did not attend the TDP's 'Mahanadu' in Hyderabad and said he hadn’t been invited. He also said that he was being insulted and sidelined because he was a Dalit. Narasimhulu told reporters, “I have worked hard for TDP and it took a toll on my health. Yet, I was ignored for Mahanadu and was not invited."
After the expulsion, Narasimhulu gave a call to Andhra voters to defeat the TDP and vote for the YSRCP or the Jana Sena.
He challenged Naidu to get clean chit in all the cases against him, and demanded a CBI inquiry on his assets.