If the reports doing rounds in the media circles are to be believed, firebrand YSR Congress party leader and former minister Jogi Ramesh is contemplating quitting the party and defect to either the Telugu Desam Party or Jana Sena Party.
According to these reports, Jogi Ramesh has been maintaining stoic silence, ever since he was booked in the case pertaining to the attack on TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s residence in 2021.
The case has now been entrusted to the Crime Investigation Department (CID).
He has been keeping away from party activities for quite some time and has not issued any statements to criticise the TDP, when all the other party colleagues have been going hammer and tongs at Naidu.
Reports said Jogi Ramesh had sent feelers to the TDP leadership that he is interested in joining the party.
Some senior TDP leaders from Krishna district, too, are learnt to have lobbied with Naidu to allow the former minister into the party, because he is a senior BC leader and his entry will strengthen the party.
However, both Naidu and his son Lokesh have not evinced interest in admitting Jogi Ramesh into the party because of his track record.
The top leaders point out how the YSRCP leader had made vulgar comments against Naidu, apart from attacking the latter’s residence.
“What is more, Jogi Ramesh’s family members were allegedly involved in the illegal purchase of Agri Gold lands and his son was arrested by the ACB authorities. He had looted the state when the YSRCP was in power. How can we admit him into the party?” a TDP leader questioned.
According to the latest reports, Jogi Ramesh is now trying to join the Jana Sena Party to safeguard his political career.
He has reportedly sent feelers to Jana Sena chief and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan through his former colleague Samineni Udayabhanu from Jaggayyapet.
He is awaiting response from the Jana Sena leadership, sources said.