Changing caste equations in AP: Devineni Avinash quits TDP, to join YSRCP

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh opposition party, TDP, suffered a major jolt on Thursday as Telugu Yuvatha State President Devineni Avinash tendered his resignation to the party. He has decided to join the ruling YSRCP.

The development signifies changing caste equations in AP politics. TDP has been traditionally enjoying the support of the Kamma community. YSRCP chief and AP CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched ‘Operation Akarsh’ to lure influential Kamma leaders in TDP into YSRCP after he came to power five months ago

The operation to weaken TDP began with the recent resignation of Gannavaram TDP MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi, who is also an influential Kamma leader. He is all set to join YSRCP anytime. Within a gap of a few days, another strong leader from the Kamma community, Avinash quit TDP to join YSRCP.

The development came on a day when TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu sat on a ‘sand deeksha’ in Vijayawada to highlight the failure of Jagan’s government in ensuring adequate sand supplies in AP.

Avinash is the son of Devineni Nehru, who is a five-time MLA from TDP from 1983 to 2004. He died of cardiac arrest in 2017. Avinash contested as TDP candidate from Gudivada constituency in the recent AP Assembly polls but lost to YSRCP. He has been keeping away from party activities since then. He has been upset that there was no recognition to him and his father’s followers in TDP and he decided to quit for this reason. Reportedly, Avinash is upset at the way Chandrababu’s son Nara Lokesh has been “ill-treating” him for the past few months.

However, speculations are rife that Jagan promised a bright future for him in YSRCP in the coming days and he was even assured of Vijayawada East Assembly ticket in the 2024 elections. Avinash has been asked to build his base and cadre in Vijayawada East seat until 2024 and Jagan assured him of all the help from the government and the YSRCP party to make him MLA in 2024.