Chirala MLA Quits TDP To Join YSRCP, Blasts Naidu

In a blow to the Telugu Desam Party headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, Chirala MLA Amanchi Krishna Mohan today resigned from his party membership and submitted a letter to that effect to the party leadership, and officially joined the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

Speaking to the media after meeting YSRCP chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy at his residence, Mohan praised Jagan saying that he was a man who stood by his words, and was the only alternative for Andhra Pradesh. He said that Jagan had the same kind of conviction that his father late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had had, and was the latter's true successor.

He further stated that he would be contesting from Chirala on a YSRCP ticket in the upcoming AP Assembly elections.

Mohan pointed out that there were several reasons behind his quitting the TDP membership. Strongly criticising the party's chief Chandrababu Naidu, he said that Naidu was behaving like a dictator, and that one needed to be in sync with the party high command's whimsical ways to survive in the party.

He also said that he had doubts about the mental condition of Naidu, as he would say one thing but say something else the very next minute. And on a small issue he had run away from Hyderabad, and the employees were facing many problems at Amaravathi, devoid of even drinking water and proper housing. Naidu had also taken a U-turn on the Special Category Status issue, Krishna Mohan added.

He alleged that the Pasupu Kumkuma scheme was a big farce, and that the money was just wasted and never actually reached the poor women. He had also sent petitions about issues in his constituency to Naidu, but nobody took note of any of them, he claimed. He also alleged that in the Tuni episode false cases were foisted on his brother, and the whole issue was unnecessarily politicized.

"There are many outsiders who are influencing Chandrababu Naidu, and he is not in a position to listen to anybody as of now," he said.