Guntur: The number of leaders switching allegiance to the Jagan camp is increasing with each passing day. It is now the turn of key Telugu Desam Party leader from Guntur district, Makineni Peda Rathaiah.
Peda Rathaiah met Y V Subba Reddy, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s uncle, here and they travelled together from Guntur to Mangalagiri where the TDP leader got down from Subba Reddy’s car.
Peda Rathaiah’s decision is a big blow to the TDP as he is a popular leader representing a community that traditionally supports the TDP.
According to sources, TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu rang up Peda Rathaiah today and tried to persuade him to stay in the party and promised him key positions.
However, his attempt seems to have been futile as Peda Rathaiah went ahead to meet Subba Reddy. Sources said Jagan loyalists are camping in Guntur to attract more leaders. Senior Congress leaders Muppalaneni Seshagiri Rao, former MLA Makineni Mallikarjuna Rao, Marri Rajasekhar, Raavi Ravindranath, Devineni Mallikarjuna Rao are planning to jump on the J bandwagon under the leadership of Seshagiri Rao.
–Agencies