The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance is likely to face a significant challenge as several senior leaders from the YSR Congress Party (YSRC) accused of corruption attempt to seek asylum in the BJP.
According to sources, the BJP has decided in principle to accept leaders switching allegiance, with the exception of those facing serious criminal charges such as rape and murder.
An MP from Rayalaseema, known for his close ties to YSRC leader and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is accused of large-scale corruption and mobilizing party funds, has reportedly contacted the BJP's central leadership.
Another MP, notorious for his controversial statements, has also been making efforts to split the parliamentary party and join the BJP.
For Jagan Mohan Reddy, this period is a test as several party leaders, including those who lost in the Assembly elections, are questioning his leadership.
Some have openly blamed the election losses on Jagan Mohan Reddy, while others have targeted the highly controversial bureaucrat K. Dhanunjay Reddy and Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, whom the former Chief Minister appointed as his key advisor.
After much hesitation, the YSRC leadership convened a meeting of its legislators and candidates from the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections on Friday. There was widespread speculation about whether all the contestants would attend.
The party’s four MPs were exempted from the meeting due to the commencement of the newly-constituted Lok Sabha session.
“A similar situation occurred post-2019 elections when Rajya Sabha members from the TDP merged their parliamentary party with the BJP. YSRC MPs may now be exploring similar options, possibly for their political survival,” said a senior party leader.
Sources within the BJP indicated that during a state office-bearers meeting on June 9, a decision was made to initiate ‘Operation Akarsh’, targeting disgruntled leaders from the TDP, Jana Sena, and YSRC.
Meanwhile, the TDP is closely monitoring these developments and relying on the principles of “coalition dharma” to navigate this complex situation.
