Nandyal By-Election Impact: Byreddy Back To TDP?

The Nandyal Assembly by-election result, which established the supremacy of the ruling Telugu Desam Party and the wane of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party, has brought about a big change in the political atmosphere in the Rayalaseema region.

The unexpected verdict, where the YSRCP lost despite the party president camping in Nandyal for 13 days and soliciting votes through door-to-door campaigning, has pushed the Silpa brothers to the fringes and put the opposition party leaders in a quandary and in a defensive mode. While the TDP leaders are excited, the gloomy opposition party leaders are reportedly preparing ground to switch loyalties and embrace the ruling party.

The stormy Rayalaseema Praja Samithi leader Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy, who entered the poll fray with the Rayalaseema slogan, also saw his party brushed aside by the electorate scornfully - it could not secure even 200 votes. With this, the RPS leader seems to have changed his mind and decided to abandon his Rayalaseema slogan, and is reportedly planning to convene a meeting of his followers shortly to stage a homecoming to the TDP.

It may be mentioned here that at the height of separate Telangana agitation in 2014, Byreddy raised a banner seeking a separate Rayalaseema state. Though the TDP chief tried to hold parleys with Byreddy, the latter made himself unavailable. Brushing aside the TDP president's feelers, Byreddy floated the Rayalaseema Praja Samithi with confidence. Bidding adieu to the TDP, Byreddy entered the poll fray, but has been consistently drawing a blank.

He seems to have gotten chastized and is planning to come back to the TDP for greener political pastures, it is learnt.