Giving a shocker to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, at least three of his cabinet colleagues are set to join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) soon, sources said.
A fourth minister has decided to quit the Congress but has not yet made up his mind whether to join the TDP or the new party likely to be floated by Kiran.
Ministers Erasu Pratap Reddy and T G Venkatesh, who had all along been trusted supporters of Kiran, would meet TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu here on February 27 and formally join the party.
Another minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao is also set to return to his parent party this week, TDP sources said.
TDP MPs Y S Chowdary, C M Ramesh and MP-elect Garikapati Mohan Rao conferred with Erasu, T G Venkatesh and Ganta today and discussed their political plans. It was then decided that Erasu and TG would meet Chandrababu Naidu on February 27 and formally announce their entry into the TDP.
Ganta Srinivasa Rao who is also expected to follow suit, began his political career in the TDP and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Anakapalli in 1999. He joined the erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party in 2008 and became a minister after it merged with the Congress.
T G Venkatesh also previously served as a TDP MLA, while Erasu has been a Congressman all through.
Erasu and T G Venkatesh belong to Kurnool district in Rayalaseema, while Ganta Srinivasa Rao represents Visakhapatnam district in North Coastal Andhra.
Another minister Satrucharla Vijaya Rama Raju from Vizianagaram district, has also decided to quit the Congress, but hasn't made up his mind yet about his next step.
Indications are that he may return to the TDP, in the presence of Naidu, at a public rally to be held in Vizianagaram on February 26.