Jolt to YSR Congress as another MLA Jayaramulu from Budvel joins TDP

Vijayawada, Feb 24 (IANS) In an another setback to the YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh, one more legislator has switched loyalties to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Jayaramulu, a member of the assembly from Budvel in Kadapa district, met Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here on Wednesday and formally joined the TDP.

The legislator told reporters that he was impressed by the development works undertaken by the TDP-led government. He said nobody influenced him to join the TDP.

The development comes two days after four MLAs and an MLC of the only opposition party in the state decided to join the ruling party.

The lawmakers said they joined the TDP for the development of their respective constituencies and also the state.

YSRCP chief Y.S. Jaganmoahn Reddy accused Naidu of engineering defections and said it would prove costly for the TDP leader.

Jagan said Naidu had been engineering defections from the very beginning of his political career and adopting unethical methods to lure opposition party legislators.

He said that within a year, TDP MLAs and leaders will make a beeline to join the YSRCP as they will not be able to face the people due to Naidu's anti-people policies.