Strike the iron when it is hot – goes the adage. Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu appears to be following this saying to hit YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy below the belt.
Taking advantage of the dejection in the YSR Congress party following its humiliating defeat in the just concluded Nandyal by-elections, Naidu is learnt to be contemplating more MLAs from the opposition into the TDP. This was confirmed by TDP MLC Jupudi Prabhakar Rao who predicted that at least another dozen MLAs were evincing interest in joining the TDP sooner or later.
“Many of these leaders are disgusted with the style of function of Jagan and his highhanded behaviour,” he said.
The TDP leaders have stepped up this campaign in the social media as well. For the last two days, there have been reports that YSRC MLA G Srikanth Reddy is in touch with the TDP leadership showing interest in joining the ruling party. Srikanth, however, flatly denied the reports and said he would not quit the YSRC under any circumstances.
It clearly appears the TDP leadership is playing a mind game by leaking such reports and making such statements to demoralise the YSRC. It remains to be seen how Jagan will counter such moves.
