The YSR Congress party’s pre-election campaign “Ninnu Nammam Babu” (We don’t trust you, Babu) seems to be catching up more with the Telugu Desam Party leaders than the common people.
As the elections are fast approaching, more and more TDP leaders are evincing interest in joining the YSRC and are making beeline to the Lotus Pond to meet party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
On Saturday morning, senior TDP leader from Allagadda Irigela Rampulla Reddy joined YSR Congress Party in the presence of Jagan at Lotus Pond residence.
Jagan welcomed him into the party and asked him to work with in coordination with Gangula Pratap Reddy, who had joined the YSRC much earlier.
According to sources, more shocks are in store for TDP president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the coming days.
Latest reports indicate that even minister for roads and buildings Ch Ayyanna Patrudu, who represents Narsipatnam constituency in Visakhapatnam district is contemplating joining the YSR Congress party.
Ayyanna, who has been nursing grouse against his cabinet colleague Ganta Srinivasa Rao, is upset with the importance being given by Naidu to Ganta, ignoring sincere leaders like him.
Apparently, Naidu is suspicious that Ayyanna was behind the defection of Anakapalle MP Avanti Srinivas into YSRC. This is said to be forcing Ayyanna to take the decision of quitting the TDP, say sources.
Similarly, former Congress MP and presently TDP MLC Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy is also all set to join the YSRC.
Magunta met Naidu in Amaravati on Saturday, but could not get any assurance for the party ticket from Ongole Lok Sabha seat. He did not speak to the media after meeting the chief minister.
It is learnt Jagan has offered Nellore Lok Sabha seat to Magunta, while shifting former MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy to Ongole.
Another senior TDP leader from Kavali P Srinivasulu Reddy said he would take a call on his future course of action, if he was not given the party ticket from Kavali assembly constituency.
It remains to be seen how many more TDP leaders would take a plunge into the YSRC.