Cong, TDP begin to feel the pinch

YSRCP continues to trouble the ruling Congress as well as the main Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).A day after a Congress legislator switched loyalties to the YSR Congress Party, a legislator from TDP on Tuesday created ripples in the party by meeting YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy in the Chanchalguda Prison here.

Praveen Kumar Reddy, member of the Legislative Assembly from Tambalapalle in Chittoor district, the native district of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, called on Jagan in the jail this morning. He plans to join the YSR Congress Party. Acting swiftly, the TDP suspended him from the party for indulging in "anti-party" activities.
The development came a day after Congress legislator M Rajesh Kumar from Chintalapudi in West Godavari district joined the YSRCP in the presence of party's honorary president Y S Vijayamma, mother of Jagan.
TDP legislator Taneti Vanita, who represents Gopalapuram (SC reserved) constituency in West Godavari district, is also joining the YSRCP November 4.She has quit the TDP last Saturday.

At least six legislators from the Congress and the TDP have joined the YSRCP since the by-elections in June. The fledgling party has bagged 15 of the 18 Assembly seats and the Nellore Lok Sabha seat in the last bypolls.
The by-elections to 17 of these Assembly seats were caused by the resignation of Congress legislators, who switched loyalties to YSRCP. MLAs from the ruling Congress and the TDP are joining the YSRCP at a time when Jagan's sister Sharmila is on a Padayatra to keep the party afloat.

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