NELLORE: In a big blow to YSRCP in the district, Nellore Municipal Corporation mayor SK Abdul Aziz announced his decision to join the TDP along with 12 corporators very soon. Though second rung leaders have deserted the party and joined the ruling TDP soon after elections, it is for the first time that a leader of the capacity of mayor is deserting the YSRCP in the district.
Abdul Aziz, however, attributed differences with YSRC Nellore city MLA P Anil Kumar Yadav to his desertion. Meanwhile, the TDP is all set to claim the mayor post once Abdul Aziz joins the party. Reports of Abdul Aziz unhappy over the party ignoring him and the high-handedness of the local MLA have been making rounds.
The YSRCP won 31 seats in the 54-seat NMC. The TDP is sitting in the opposition with 15 seats while its ally, the BJP has two corporators. The TDP will be having necessary numbers to claim the mayor post, if Abdul Aziz joins the party along with his 12 corporators.
Abdul Aziz, a big time industrialist engaged in different businesses including prawn culture even abroad with an annual turnover of hundreds of crores, joined the YSRCP in 2010 aspiring Nellore city MLA ticket in the 2014 polls. He, however, had to contend with the mayor post after YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy prevailed upon him to accept it as the city MLA seat was assured to some other leader. “I was humiliated by the party local leaders especially by city MLA P Anil Kumar Yadav since I joined the party as I was also in the race of Nellore city MLA ticket. He did not stop his attitude towards me even after I became Mayor and he is running a parallel administration in the NMC. He goes to the extent of conducting review meetings with officials without taking my opinion. Am I a fool to bear this humiliation by the MLA?” he said when contacted by the Express.
Abdul Aziz, who was in Hyderabad to meet chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu tomorrow, said that there is no second thought in joining TDP as there is no meaning to continue in YSRCP as the party top leadership ignored his plea to set the things right. “I wanted to resolve the disputes with the local MLA and put an end to his involvement in NMC but it did not happen. I feel there would be no meaning if I continue in YSRC as I entered the politics with the aim of rendering service to the people but there is no internal democracy in that party,” he said.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that YSRCP leadership is preparing ground for initiating action against Abdul Aziz and the corporators who are likely to leave the party along with him. They are trying to disqualify the deserters under the Anti Defection Act.Political analysts, however, said the disqualification might not come into force if one fourth of the corporators leave the party.