It looks like YSR Congress party does not want to allow its arch rival Telugu Desam Party president and leader of opposition N Chandrababu Naidu to have mental peace and sound sleep even after the defeat.
On Thursday, YSRC president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy hinted that some TDP legislators were in touch with him but he would not take them into YSRC unless they resign from their assembly membership.
He indicated that though he was capable of splitting the TDP and deny leader of opposition status to Naidu, he won’t do it.
“I will allow you to sit in that chair,” he said, thereby sending the message that Naidu would have to continue as leader of opposition at YSRC’s mercy.
On Friday, YSRC legislator Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy went a step ahead, stating that at least eight MLAs from TDP were in touch with his party.
“Among these eight TDP MLAs, two are in touch with me directly and all of them are ready to join YSRCP anytime,” he said.
He even said one of the TDP MLAs willing to join the YSRC was a powerful leader at the state level.
“He and other TDP MLAs are asking the party tickets in next assembly elections and also a priority in developmental works,” he said, but did not reveal who the MLAs want to join TDP were.
Kotamreddy further said not just MLAs, even a senior Rajya Sabha member was also in touch with the party for the last two months.
“Similarly, many TDP leaders at the grassroots level are also want to join YSRCP,” he asserted.
Definitely, such statements would disturb the mind of Naidu, who will now start enquiring as to who these prospective defectors are.