The ongoing Samaikyandhra agitation seems to have led to an exodus of the Congress leaders from that party.
Despite the repeated assurances and assertions by the party’s state leaders, including chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, that the Congress high command would be forced to rescind its decision to bifurcate the state, tens of Congress leaders in the district have either already quit the party or are on the verge of doing so.
Those who have already resigned include state minor irrigation minister T G Venkatesh and law minister Erasu Pratap Reddy - they have submitted their resignations to the chief minister stating that they could not continue in their posts in view of the ever-growing agitation in the Seemandhra region. The two ministers are reportedly planning to join some other political party (read YSRC). The others who have quit their posts are Nandyal MLA Silpa Mohan Reddy - who sent in his resignation to APCC chief B Satyanarayana on Tuesday, former MLA Challa Ramakrishna Reddy -- who is set to join the YSRC -- and former DCC president S Raghurami Reddy.
Meanwhile, according to political sources, Nandikotkur MLA Labbi Venkataswami, Panyam MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy, Alur MLA P Neeraja Reddy and Nandyal MP SPY Reddy are planning to leave the Congress and join the YSRC.
They may do so on September 5, when YSRC leader Sharmila enters Kurnool district as part of her bus yatra. Some of the leaders shared their views with Express here on Tuesday. Rambhupal Reddy said that there was no future in the Congress party for any politician in the Seemandhra region.
source: Indian Express
