The discussion in Seemandhra Congress circles, which till recently revolved around how to prevent State division, is now veering towards “potential defectors” and “die-hard loyalists.”
With the Telangana process gradually drawing to a close and general elections approaching fast, the party leaders are increasingly focusing on their own future and to keep afloat, are busy looking for greener pastures.
If some such as ministers Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Erasu Pratap Reddy and TG Venkatesh and veterans like JC Diwakar Reddy and Gade Venkata Reddy have dropped hints that they are on their way out, more and more leaders are joining chorus with them.
The latest to openly express his intent to quit the Congress is minister K Parthasaradhi. The minister, considered a staunch loyalist till the other day, said Friday in Anantapur that if Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy floated a new party, he would definitely become its member. His colleague Galla Aruna Kumari too is not sure if she would sail with the Congress in the run-up to the polls. While talking to scribes in Chittoor district on Friday, she said she had not yet decided on changing her political affiliation.
Interestingly, she said she would welcome whatever decision her son Galla Jayadev takes about his political future. These comments of Aruna assume significance as Jayadev’s candidature has almost been finalised by the TDP leadership for the Guntur Lok Sabha constituency.
Another Minister Satrucharla Vijaya Rama Raju is also understood to be eyeing the YSRC. His act of holding a meeting with his close aides in Vizianagaram district on Friday to decide his political course strengthens this belief.
In fact, of late Seemandhra Congress circles are abuzz with talk that party MLAs from the region are ready to quit the party in the wake of the severe backlash against the Centre’s T decision in Seemandhra.
It has already been reported in these columns that some of the Kapu MLAs from the Congress in East Godavari district have decided to join their parent party, the TDP, whereas some other Congress MLAs are leaning towards the YSRC.
Former minister Dharmana Prasada Rao is also understood to have decided to board Jagan’s ship.