The YSR Congress party faced a major setback in Visakhapatnam as its district party president and two-time former MLA, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, resigned from his party post as well as the primary membership of the party on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters in Visakhapatnam, Ramesh Babu expressed his decision to quit the party with a heavy heart, stating that he had not been able to fulfill the needs of the party cadre and the district.
"For the past year, I have been attempting to bring the party president and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's attention to the problems within the party and the district, but I have not been given the opportunity to do so. It is pointless to continue in the party when I am unable to address the people's issues with the government and the party," he said.
Ramesh Babu indirectly referred to the issues created by YSRC in-charge of Visakhapatnam and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanms trust board chairman, Y.V. Subba Reddy.
"I have no personal differences with Subba Reddy. However, I was prevented from conducting meetings with local social groups. I also do not appreciate making harsh comments against political opponents," he stated.
Sources suggest that Ramesh Babu was dissatisfied with Subba Reddy, whom he believes has been promoting certain factions within the party. Additionally, the local YSRC legislators have not been cooperative. Realizing that he may not receive the party ticket in the upcoming elections, he made the decision to resign from the party, as per sources.
Ramesh Babu entered politics in 2009 and contested from Pendurthi assembly constituency on the Praja Rajyam Party ticket. He won the seat but was compelled to join the Congress party along with PRP president and megastar Chiranjeevi.
Following the bifurcation of the combined state, Ramesh Babu resigned from the Congress and joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2014, along with Ganta Srinivas Rao and Avanti Srinivas. He contested the assembly elections from Yelamanchili on the TDP ticket and won the seat.
In August 2020, Ramesh Babu left the TDP to join the YSRC. He was appointed as the Visakhapatnam district party president but has faced difficulties in adjusting there. There are indications that he may join the Jana Sena Party, according to sources.
