Ever since the Telugu Desam Party led by N Chandrababu Naidu, in alliance with Jana Sena Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, came to power in Andhra Pradesh in June this year, there have been attempts by several leaders from the YSR Congress party to defect into the TDP.
But Naidu, who had tasted the animosity of the YSRCP during the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government, has been very choosy in accepting the leaders into the TDP. Many YSRCP leaders are not able to get a chance to meet Naidu, as he is not giving them audience.
It now appears they have found a new route to get into his good books and try an entry into the TDP. That is approaching the chief minister on the pretext of making huge donations for flood relief work to the state which suffered heavily due to heavy rains and floods to Krishna, Budameru and Godavari rivers.
Perhaps it was senior leader and former minister Siddha Raghava Rao who had found this new route to get back into the TDP. He had worked as an MLA, MLC and even minister during the Chandrababu Naidu regime in the past. He even got a chance to contest the Lok Sabha elections during the TDP period.
But when the TDP lost elections in 2019, Raghava Rao did not lose much time in defecting to the YSRCP to protect his business interests – granite mines. Though he did not get any posts or positions in the Jagan regime, he managed to run his business without any hassles.
After Naidu returned to power with such a huge mandate in June, Raghava Rao quickly resigned from the YSRCP and started making efforts to get back into the TDP. But he could not get the appointment of Naidu so easily. Even Naidu’s close leaders could not get him an appointment with Naidu.
However, the recent floods to Vijayawada came to his rescue. Reacting to the call given by Naidu to business and commercial establishments to donate liberally to the flood relief, Raghava Rao grabbed the chance and managed to get the time to meet Naidu to present a donation of Rs 50 lakh to the relief fund.
He used this opportunity to enquire about Naidu’s health, recall his association with him in the past and request the chief minister to allow him to get back into the TDP. Apparently, Naidu reacted positively and agreed to admit him into the TDP.
This has given a hint to other YSRCP leaders who are also waiting to join the TDP.
“So, they are also coming forward to meet Naidu with fat cheques and make big donations to the flood relief. At the same time, they are requesting him to admit them into the TDP,” sources said.
It is not immediately known how many of them would succeed in joining the TDP, but the method chosen by them for the same has become a talking point in the party!