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Target: Jagan’s inner camp
Even as YSR Congress Party leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy sits on protest to corner the Chandrababu Naidu government over the irrigation projects planned by Telangana, the ruling Telugu Desam Party intensifies its ‘Operation Akarsh’ to hard hit the Opposition leader.
TDP ‘Operation Akarsh’ nets YSRCP’s Balineni
Hyderabad: Even as YSR Congress Party leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy sits on protest to corner the Chandrababu Naidu government over the irrigation projects planned by Telangana, the ruling Telugu Desam Party intensifies its ‘Operation Akarsh’ to hard hit the Opposition leader. In the latest episode, the TDP has targeted Jagan’s inner camp itself. In a bid to frustrate the Opposition not only politically but also personally, the TDP is all set to attract Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, a close relative of Jagan and a former minister into the party fold.
Balineni is expected to join the TDP along with two more legislators from Prakasham district -- Kandukuru MLA Pothula Rama Rao and Santhanuthalapadu MLA Adimulapu Suresh. Sources in the TDP told The Hans India that Balineni had offered to join the TDP along with four legislators. Two of them, Yerragondapalem MLA David Raju and Addanki MLA Gottipati Ravikumar, have already defected to the TDP reportedly at the behest of Balineni.
These four MLAs are believed to be in the Balineni camp in the district political feud between him and another close relative of Jagan, YV Subba Reddy. The ongoing rivalry is also one of the reasons for Balineni’s possible exit from the YSR Congress Party. Sources close to Balineni told this correspondent that he was offered the Rajya Sabha seat. However, TDP sources deny it and state that Balineni has personal reasons to join the TDP especially the financial troubles which are the result of his own fiscal profligacy.
The sources reveal that a media owner close to the TDP has mediated between Balineni and key TDP leaders. However, Balineni said these reports were not true and even denied having met Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy and Devineni Uma, ministers in the Chandrababu Naidu Cabinet.
Reports say that Jaganmohan Reddy has held a round of talks with YV Subba Reddy and Balineni Srinivasa Reddy to sort out the problems.
Even Jagan‘s mother Vijayamma has also reported to have persuaded Balineni not to leave the party. But political observers state that these efforts to retain Balineni may not fructify. But, political adversaries of Balineni within the YSR Congress dismiss the reports as his plans to blackmail Jagan.
The sources in both the parties confirm that hectic lobbying is on to woo 10 more MLAs from the YSR Congress to join the TDP.
