Silpas brother joins TDP with his followers

HYDERABAD: The YSR Congress Party has received a jolt in Kurnool district as its leader Silpa Chakrapani Reddy formally joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Friday.Chakrapani, brother of Congress MLA and former minister Silpa Mohan Reddy, along with his followers met TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu at NTR Bhavan and later joined the party. A public meeting will be held soon either in Hyderabad or Kurnool to induct Chakrapani and his followers into the TDP.Speaking to reporters later, Chakrapani said he joined the TDP as he was disgusted with the antipeople policies of YSRC.Kurnool district TDP leader Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy alleged that the YSRC had reached a clandestine agreement with the Congress. The YSRC like the Praja Rajyam Party would be merged with the Congress sooner or later, he said.According to party sources, YSRC president YS Jaganmohan Reddy had refused to give Srisailam Assembly ticket to Chakrapani during his recent visit to Kurnool district.Budda Rajasekhara Reddy who joined the YSRC after quitting the TDP, is the main obstacle to Chakrapani to get the party ticket. This had prompted Chakrapani to leave the YSRC and join TDP.Rumours are rife that Mohan Reddy has also supported the decision taken by Chakrapani to join the TDP.The grapevine has it that Mohan Reddy will also join the TDP after the end of his term.The latest political development has given a fillip to the TDP in Kurnool district.