Hours after he was suspended from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), former Nellimarla MLA Baddukonda Appala Naidu and several of his supporters announced their resignation from the primary membership of the party.
Appala Naidu held a meeting with his supporters on Saturday to discuss their future political course and subsequently announced that they were quitting the YSRCP.
The former MLA launched a sharp attack on party president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, questioning the circumstances surrounding his suspension from the party.
Appala Naidu alleged that he was suspended because he was related to Majji Srinivasa Rao (Chinna Srinu), who recently left the YSRCP and joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
He questioned why former minister Botsa Satyanarayana, who he said was also related to Majji Srinivasa Rao, had not faced similar action.
“Is there actually a disciplinary committee in the YSRCP? Can Jagan suspend Botsa, as he is also related to Chinna Srinu?” Appala Naidu asked, while questioning the basis for his suspension.
He alleged that he had been removed from the party without any valid reason merely because Chinna Srinu was his brother-in-law. He also challenged the party leadership to take similar action against Botsa Satyanarayana if family relations were being cited as grounds for disciplinary action.
Appala Naidu said thousands of families had suffered after placing their trust in Jagan and accused the YSRCP leadership of functioning in an authoritarian manner. He alleged that the party had effectively been reduced to a “limited company.”
He said he would not remain in a political organisation where he felt he was not being respected and added that his supporters would also not continue under such circumstances.
The latest developments follow a series of political changes in Vizianagaram district. Chinna Srinu, who is a nephew of Botsa Satyanarayana, recently left the YSRCP and joined the TDP. Several ZPTC members subsequently followed suit and resigned from the YSRCP.
Following Chinna Srinu’s departure, Botsa Satyanarayana conducted a district-level extended meeting of YSRCP leaders. Appala Naidu attended the meeting and at the time stated that he would continue in the YSRCP despite his close association with Majji Srinivasa Rao.
However, Appala Naidu was subsequently removed from the position of YSRCP in-charge for the Nellimarla Assembly constituency and was suspended from the party two days ago.
The suspension appears to have triggered the latest confrontation. Appala Naidu convened his supporters to discuss his political future, following which they announced their resignations from the YSRCP.
His next political move is now being closely watched in Vizianagaram district. There is speculation that Appala Naidu could follow Majji Srinivasa Rao and join the TDP, although he has not formally announced such a decision.
He is expected to announce his future political course in the coming days.
