Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu is having a tough time with his election campaign, as he sorts out candidates' problems and prevents an exodus to the Jagan camp. After senior party leader M.V. Mysura Reddy's shock exit from TD and entry into the YSR Congress, Mr Naidu reportedly put his cadre on high alert.
TD sources said that party leaders have been asked to prevent defections in the midst of elections, lest it should send wrong signals and dampen the party’s prospects. Though party leaders dismiss Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's claims that some Congress and TD MLAs were keen to join him, they'd rather not take any chances. Admittedly the situation is fluid. It’s a fact that some party leaders are sitting on the fence ready to jump into the Jagan camp depending on the situation.
“The arrest of Jagan could trigger some exits, but it would be temporary. Jagan is a risky bet,” a senior TD leader said. Senior party leader and politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said that luring one or two party leaders away would make no difference to the party. “People now believe that only TD can provide a corruption-free and stable government,” he said. Rumours are buzzing that Markapur MLA Narayan Reddy and Nuzvid MLA Ramakotaiah were looking towards Jagan, but they have denied the rumours.
Former minister, T. Srinivas Yadav also created a stir by calling on Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, only to clarify later that his visit pertained to Monda Market. The TD is also facing a problem in the Nellore Lok Sabha constituency, where party candidate Venugopal Reddy reportedly planned to opt out but was reprimanded by Mr Naidu.
Mr Reddy, who is taking on bigwigs like T. Subbarami Reddy and Mekapati, denied the reports and asserted he was very much in the fray. He said the confusion arose due to a nomination filed by a dummy candidate, B. Ravichandra.