Amravati: In a major setback to Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), two of its Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) resigned from the party. Sources told Tims Now that Mopidevi Venkataramana and Beeda Mastan Rao are likely to join the N Chandra Babu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankar accepted their resignation. Venkataramana's tenure in the Upper House was till June 2026, while Rao's tenure was till June 2028.
After Venkataramana and Rao's resignation, the YSRCP will have nine MPs in the Upper House and four in the Lower House. According to reports, these two MPs are likely to get re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from the TDP. Notably, since 2019, the Chandrababu Naidu-led party does not have any MPs in the Upper House.
Rao had earlier resigned from the TDP in 2019 and joined the YSRCP. He represented Andhra Pradesh's Kavali constituency from 2009 to 2014. Meanwhile, the Venkataramana had quit the Congress and joined the Reddy-led party.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election Aftermath:
Notably after the massive loss in the recently concluded Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls, the YSRCP has been witnessing an exodus of leaders In the 2024 assembly polls, the YSRCP was restricted to only 11 seats from 151, while the TDP won 135 seas and its ally Jansena Part (JSP) bagged 21 seats. Chandrababu was sworn-in as the CM of the state.