Prominent Backward Classes leader and YSR Congress party leader R Krishnaiah, who dealt a rude shock to the party by resigning from his Rajya Sabha membership, has indirectly favoured the Telugu Desam Party.
Though he has not yet resigned from the YSRCP, it is quite obvious that his resignation would lead to the TDP bagging the Rajya Sabha seat easily because of its brute majority in the state assembly.
Strangely, Krishnaiah had a meeting with senior Congress leaders, including Nagarkurnool MP Mallu Ravi in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Ravi has invited him into the Congress party, but the latter did not give any assurance.
There are reports that he would be made the chairman of National OBC Commission by the NDA government at the Centre, if he joins the BJP. On record, Krishnaiah said he had relinquished his RS seat only to strengthen the BC cause.
Obviously, the YSRCP expressed disappointment over Krishnaiah resigning from the RS seat and alleged that he was joining hands with TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
“It is unfortunate as Chandrababu's actions were destabilizing the state and undermining democracy by purchasing opposition members,” YSRCP leader and former minister P Anil Kumar Yadav said.
He said YSRCP president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had appointed Krishnaiah with the hope that he would work for the upliftment of BC communities.
“Despite having several capable leaders in the party, YS Jagan trusted Krishnaiah to represent the voice of BCs in the national capital and Parliament and therefore, offered him the Rajya Sabha seat,” he said.
Yadav said Krishnaiah’s decision to side with Chandrababu had caused a serious betrayal to the BC community. This move had harmed the trust and respect placed in him by the party and people, he added.
He, however, said Krishnaiah's actions would not weaken the YSR Congress Party, and that the public would definitely respond strongly and teach a lesson when the time comes.
