Ex-YSRCP MP Raghu Rama Raju likely to join TDP

Vijayawada: Former YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP K Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju is likely to join TDP.

This comes after the BJP denied him a ticket to contest from the Narasapuram Lok Sabha constituency,

Sources said that Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju is likely to join the TDP soon in the presence of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu.

As part of their alliance with TDP and Jana Sena, the BJP would contest six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats

BJP on Sunday announced the names of six candidates for Araku, Rajamahendravaram, Tirupati, Rajampet, Ankapalle, and Narsapuram seats.

However, the BJP leadership did not consider Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju’s candidature as he had not joined the party. Instead, Srinivasa Varma was given a ticket.

A month ago, Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju quit the YSRCP. In the 2019 elections, he was elected as an MP from Narsapuram Lok Sabha seat. Six months later, he started to disagree with the leadership of YSRCP on various key issues and stayed away.

During a public meeting of the TDP and Jana Sena alliance at Tadepalligudem, Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju exhorted confidence to contest from Narsapuram on BJP’s ticket.

After being denied a ticket, Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju alleged that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy influenced the saffron party.

“Right from the beginning, I had a suspicion about Jagan Mohan Reddy given his proximity with former BJP AP president Somu Veerraaju. The duo influenced the BJP leadership, which was even confirmed by my sources,” Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju told vernacular media.