TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu here on Tuesday reportedly gave a green signal to admit the “JC Brothers” of Anantapur district into his party. However, the former chief minister put a condition that his party cannot field JC Prabhakar Reddy from Anantapur Lok Sabha constituency as demanded, but would give him ticket to contest from Tadipatri Assembly constituency. The JC brothers’ entry into the TDP was made easy as Rapthadu MLA Paritala Sunitha and former MP Kaluva Srinivasulu, who had earlier threatened to quit the party if JC brothers were admitted into the party, relented and compromised with JC Brothers.
Earlier in the day, the TDP supremo held a meeting with party leaders of Anantapur district and workers of Tadipatri Assembly constituency at his residence here. Naidu conferred with them following reports that JC brothers of Congress party were contemplating to join the TDP. In the meeting, the discussion was mainly on admission of JC brothers into the party. Barring Paritala Sunitha and Kalva Srinivasulu and their followers, the TDP cadre were in favour of JC brothers entering the party. Reports also stated there was leadership vacuum in Tadipatri constituency and the workers were welcoming the decision of JC brothers to join TDP so that it would boost the strength of the party in the constituency. TDP party cadres are still supporting the TDP in Tadipatri constituency which was a fortress of party in spite of Nagireddy’s departure from the party.
It may be mentioned here that former minister JC Diwakar Reddy has been Congress strongman in Anantapur district since four decades. However, after the 2009 elections, Diwakar Reddy was eclipsed by N. Raghuveera Reddy. Hurt by this, Diwakar Reddy has been trying to join the TDP. Taking this as an advantage, Chandrababu struck a deal with Diwakar Reddy in the MLC elections held two-and-a-half years ago. The TDP leader had proposed to give two Assembly seats to Diwakar Reddy’s group if the latter ensured victory of TDP candidate Govinda Reddy in the local bodies MLC election.
Chandrababu Naidu reportedly told his party leaders and workers at today’s meeting that he had decided to admit JC brothers in the first week of next month in order to get the party overcome from financial stringency since the past ten years. With this, Paritala Sunitha and Kalva Srinivasulu agreed to abide by Naidu’s decision which left all surprised. (NSS)