Senior YSR Congress Party leader P V L Narasimha Raju from the Undi Assembly constituency in West Godavari district resigned from the party within hours of being appointed to the YSRCP Political Advisory Committee.
Raju announced his resignation after expressing dissatisfaction over the leadership’s decision to remove him as the Undi constituency coordinator.
YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy appointed Manthena Yogendra Kumar, also known as Babu, in his place. Upset over the decision, Narasimha Raju chose to quit the party.
A prominent YSRCP leader in the constituency, Narasimha Raju had contested the Undi Assembly seat twice on the party ticket. During the YSRCP government, he also served as chairman of the District Cooperative Central Bank.
Announcing his resignation, Narasimha Raju said Jagan had personally invited him in 2017 to take charge of the Undi constituency.
He claimed that he contested the elections despite knowing that the constituency was difficult for the party to win and funded his campaign with his own resources.
“I worked honestly to uphold Jagan’s reputation in the constituency. Before the recent decision, I met Jagan with my resignation letter in my pocket. I clearly told him that I would not cooperate if Yogendra Kumar was appointed as the constituency in-charge. Despite my objections, the leadership went ahead with the appointment,” Narasimha Raju said.
Questioning the choice of his successor, he alleged that Yogendra Kumar had never actively worked for the party or participated in its organisational activities, but was still given the key responsibility.
“When there is no respect for me in the party, there is no point in continuing. That is why I resigned,” he said.
Narasimha Raju also made serious allegations about the party’s functioning in West Godavari district.
He claimed that two district-level leaders were promoting “dummy leaders” and had weakened the organisation. He alleged that their actions had badly damaged the YSRCP in the district.
He further criticised the party leadership for failing to engage with senior leaders who had already left or were planning to leave the party.
Referring to Grandhi Srinivas and Kottu Satyanarayana, he alleged that the party president had not held discussions with either of them before their exit.
Narasimha Raju said he had a responsibility towards the party workers and supporters who had stood by him.
He added that he needed the support of a political party to continue in public life and would announce his future course of action within a week.
