It looks like the days of Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary in the Telugu Desam Party are numbered.
Indications are that he might soon join the Bharatiya Janata Party, much to the embarrassment of his boss and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Sujana Chowdary was conspicuous by his absence at the dinner meeting held by Naidu at New Delhi on Thursday before the latter left for London.
He did not even accompany the Chief Minister to the meetings with senior Union Ministers Arun Jaitely and Rajnath Singh.
Though Sujana sought to defend his absence stating that he was not keeping well, Naidu apparently got the hint that the Union minister was clearly avoiding him.
It may be mentioned that Sujana’s Rajya Sabha term will be coming to an end this month and it is unlikely that Naidu might renominate him for the Upper House.
So, Sujana is all set to lose his cabinet berth. Indications are that Naidu might recommend the name of Muralimohan for replacing Sujana in the Central cabinet.
Moreover, Sujana is in neck-deep troubles due to money laundering cases and it might turn negative for the TDP back home. That is the reason why Sujana is avoiding Naidu.
Sources said Sujana is contemplating joining the BJP to wriggle out of the cases against him. Since he is a cash-rich party, the BJP might entertain him and use his services in strengthening the party in Andhra Pradesh, sources said.
