With elections to the state assembly just 16 months away, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu has once again stepped up poaching the leaders from rival YSR Congress party in its own strongholds, in order to weaken the opposition.
The latest prey to fall in the net of the TDP is Satrucharla Chandrasekhar Raju, father-in-law of YSRC MLA P Pushpa Srivani representing Kurupam assembly constituency in Vizianagaram district.
Raju, who was the former MLA from Nagur assembly constituency in ‘90s, announced that he was going to join the TDP soon.
Raju, cousin of former Congress minister and present MLC Satrucherla Vijayarama Raju, was also with the Congress party for a long time before joining the YSRC.
In the 2014 elections, he dropped out of the contest and encouraged his daughter-in-law Srivani to contest the 2014 assembly elections on YSRC ticket from Kurupam. She won with comfortable majority.
However, after 2014 elections, Raju lost his relevance, as Srivani started dominating the party politics in the constituency. He started facing the identity crisis, as he was totally sidelined.
Taking advantage of his position, the TDP trapped him and lured him into the party. He told media that he was very much vexed with his daughter-in-law and planning to join Telugu Desam.
He said he would work with his brother for the victory of TDP candidate in next elections.
