Dokka may quit YSRCP, back in TDP?

Former minister and YSR Congress party state legislative council member Dokka Manikya Varaprasad, who has been keeping away from the party activities for quite some time, is said to have decided to quit the party.

According to speculations doing rounds in the party, Dokka may soon return to the Telugu Desam Party, which he had left in March 2020. However, there has been neither denial nor confirmation on the speculations from Dokka till now.

On Friday evening, state irrigation minister and YSRCP candidate for Sattenapalli assembly constituency Ambati Rambabu went to the residence of Dokka and sought his support in campaigning for the party in his constituency.

He reportedly requested Dokka not to leave the party and told him that he would ensure the party would give him a good position. But Dokka did not give him any reply but declined politely to Ambati’s request to take part in the party campaign.

Dokka was expecting the party ticket from Tadikonda assembly constituency in Guntur district, which he had represented in the past. In fact, he was made YSRCP in-charge coordinator of the constituency.

But suddenly, he was removed from the post and it was given to state minister Mekathoti Sucharita, who was finally given the party ticket for Tadikonda. Since then, Dokka has been sulking for being sidelined in the party.

Dokka told reporters recently that nobody was caring for him in the party and he was being completely ignored. He regretted that he could not get the audience of Jagan Mohan Reddy despite making several attempts.

The former minister, who played an important role in the Congress party during the Y S Rajasekhar Reddy regime, defected to the TDP after bifurcation of the state. He contested the 2019 assembly elections on TDP ticket, but lost to Sucharitha.

Later, Naidu nominated him to the state legislative council, but Dokka quit the party later and joined the YSRCP in March 2020. He resigned form his MLC post as well and got elected again on YSRCP ticket.