Confirming speculations that have been doing rounds in the political circles in Andhra Pradesh for quite some time, former minister and son-in-law of Telugu Desam Party founder N T Rama Rao on Sunday joined YSR Congress party headed by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
Daggubati, along with his son Hitesh Chenchuram, met Jagan at the latter’s residence in Lotus Pond in Hyderabad in the afternoon and expressed their intentions to join the YSRC. Jagan welcomed both of them and assured to take care of their political interests.
According to initial reports, Hitesh is likely to be given the YSRC party ticket from Parchur assembly constituency in Prakasam district, which was represented by Daggubati in the past.
It is not exactly known what assurance the father has got from Jagan, but he might be fielded either for Lok Sabha or given the Rajya Sabha ticket after the elections.
Daggubati, elder son-in-law of NTR, shifted loyalties from Telugu Desam Party to Congress in 2004 along with his wife Purandeswari.
He was elected as MLA from Congress ticket in 2004 and 2009 assembly elections respectively. After 2014, he went into a virtual political hibernation.
While Daggubati and his son have joined the YSRC, Purandeshwari, a former Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party Mahila Morcha leader, will continue to remain in the BJP, at least till the elections.
She is learnt to have been given a promise that she would be given Rajya Sabha ticket from some state.
In fact, Daggubati and Hitesh’s entry into YSRC has been doing rounds for quite some time. Recently, their pictures appeared on the flex boards in Ongole.
It is learnt YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy played a crucial role in bringing the father and son into the YSRC.