7 party corporators in Visakhapatnam switch from YSRCP to TDP

The YSRCP, which was defeated in the general elections in May this year, suffered a major blow in Visakhapatnam on July 21 when seven corporators quit the party and joined the TDP, in the presence of party leaders Palla Srinivasa Rao, M Sribharat and Ganta Srinivasa Rao. More corporators are likely to follow suit soon.

The party corporators who switched loyalty from YSRCP to TDP in Visakhapatnam were Saripalli Govind (ward 25), K Hanok (ward 45), B Narasimha Patrudu (ward 65), Illapu Varalakshmi (ward 85), L Apparao (ward 11), R Ramarao (ward 71) and K Appalaratnam (ward 30).

Jana Sena Party leader and Visakha South MLA Vamsikrishna Srinivas, who was also present, said that several YSRCP corporators were ready to join the JSP and they would be inducted into the party fold in the presence of JSP chief Pawan Kalyan. According to him, corporators A Leelavathi, K Kameswari, P Ushasri, B Surya Kumari have decided to join the JSP.

With the transfer of the seven YSRCP corporators to the TDP, the YSRCP’s strength in the council fell from 58 to 51, while that of the TDP increased from 30 to 37.

While the JSP has three corporators in the council, it was followed by BJP, CPI(M) and CPI, each with one. The strength of independents is four and they have extended their support to the YSRCP.

Sensing trouble, former minister Gudivada Amarnath and mayor G Hari Venkata Kumari held a meeting with party leaders on July 20 to stop the exodus. Reportedly, more than 20 leaders skipped the meeting, sending a clear message to the party.

The TDP has launched this ‘Operation Aakarsh’ with an eye on the mayorship. The magic number required to win the mayorship is 59, including ex-officio members, and the TDP-led alliance is confident that they will achieve the target.

This article is written by Senior Journalist Lakkoju Nagesh Babu.

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