Machilipatnam MLA and Congress whip Perni Nani has today made clear his decision to join YSRCP.
The MLA, who created quite a political furore by meeting YSRCP's arrested president Jaganmohan Reddy at Chanchalguda Jail today, said that although he had planned on remaining with Congress until the 2014 elections, he could not do so in the face of the "injustice" being meted out to the YSRC leader.
It has been reported that Jagan has been contacting att the MPs and MLAs who have, in the past, shown interest in joining his party, and has been demanding that they clarify where they stand. While speculations are on about whether Nani made his announcement under pressure from Jagan or out of his own accord, the MLA insisted that he is doing so as he wished to stand by the Kadapa MP and his family in the latters' times of hardship.
"I have decided to stand by Jagan while he is facing a tough time. It is wrong on part of the [Congress] party to keep him arrested for so long based on mere accusations. Jagan only need say the word, and I will be there for him," said Nani.