In what is called giving shock to former Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, four Jai Samaikyandhra leaders — Sai Prathap, Pithani Satyaranarayana, Sailajanath and Harsha Kumar today skipped the meeting called by the former. Thus, Kiran, who is championing the cause of keeping the State united is being singled out himself. Kiran is to face the music and annoyed as the leaders on whom he pinned hopes finally switching loyalties.
Thanks to opportunistic politics ruling the roost. Now it is the time for the leaders mainly seniors are trying their luck by switching loyalties to other parties like TDP, YSRCP in Seemandhra and TRS in Telangana State. It is being widely debated among political circles that Kiran could not digest this and expressed anguish and displeasure over the issue. He is understood to have asked his lieutenants like Lagadapati Rajagopal and Undavalli Arun Kumar as to why they could not attend the meeting called by him.
Caught in the web of a piquant situation, Jai Samaikyandhra Party Chief is now focusing his strength to coordinate with the existing leaders, who should not follow suit of Pithani and some others changing parties. It is pertinent to note that former ministers like TG Venkatesh, E Prathap Reddy and Ganta Srinivasa Rao involved in mounting pressure for keeping the State united at State and Central levels are now into the TDP fold. While a defiant Congress leader JC Diwakar Reddy, along with his brother and son joined the TDP in the presence of its chief Chandrababu Naidu. Like rubbing salt to injury, Diwakar Reddy praised Naidu as worthy and capable of developing Andhra Pradesh State post bifurcation. Now it is for the people to support TDP for real development, JC exhorted the people.
Even as the Congress leaders are trying to make it to people with their seven days campaign which gets poor public response, Kiran faces a similar problem from within. While Kiran’s staunch supporter and former minister Sailajanath from Anantapur was planning to join the TDP, Pithani made it clear that he would join the Telugu Desam Party soon after his supporters and activists protested at his residence in West Godavari district. At this crucial juncture of elections, it is to be seen who will be in the JSP and who will contest the elections. (NSS)