Call it a bad omen or a rude shock to YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy at a time when he is getting ready for a marathon 3,000 km long padayatra form Monday.
Even as Jagan was taking the blessings of Lord Venkateshwara for the success of his padayatra, his party MLA from Rampachodavaram in East Godavari district Vanthala Rajeshwari shifted her loyalties to the ruling Telugu Desam Party on Saturday.
Accompanied by her followers and senior TDP leader Varla Ramaiah, Rajeshwari came to Amaravati and met TDP supremo and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who invited her into the party by offering her yellow upper cloth.
Apparently, senior leader and defected YSRC MLA Jyothula Nehru is understood to have played a key role in getting her admitted into the TDP.
Rajeshwari has been struggling to retain her hold in the constituency as she could not take up any developmental works because she happened to be an opposition MLA.
She lamented she had never got any opportunity from Jagan to raise her constituency issues in the assembly. So, she thought at least by joining the TDP, she could get some works done in the constituency so that she can have the winning chances next time.
Sources said Naidu wants to demoralise the YSRC party and weaken its base much before Jagan consolidates it during his padayatra. That is why, he has entrusted the task of attracting the opposition leaders into the TDP to senior party leaders.
At least another two or three YSRC MLAs might fall prey to Naidu’s bait, say sources.