The departure of Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, a prominent industrial figure in Andhra Pradesh, marks a significant setback for the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) as the state braces for the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Reddy, a seasoned leader within the party, tendered his resignation on Wednesday, relinquishing his role as a Rajya Sabha member. In his resignation letter, he cited "personal reasons" as the impetus behind his decision to step down from his political responsibilities.
The timing of Reddy's departure, occurring mere weeks ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections, is particularly noteworthy, fueling speculations that he may align himself with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu.
A well-regarded industrialist with a significant presence in Andhra Pradesh, Reddy was widely regarded as a close confidant of former Andhra Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy (YSR). His anticipated candidacy for the Nellore seat in the upcoming general elections underscores his erstwhile stature within the YSRCP.
Reddy's resignation coincides with the uncontested election of three YSRCP candidates - YV Subba Reddy, G Babu Rao, and M Raghunadha Reddy - to the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh, further accentuating the party's internal dynamics.
The impending vacancies in the Rajya Sabha, resulting from the conclusion of the tenures of incumbent members K Ravindra Kumar (TDP), CM Ramesh (BJP), and V Prabhakar Reddy (YSRCP), add a layer of complexity to the political landscape in the state.
Notably, the YSR Congress has recently grappled with a spate of defections, with several leaders and MPs opting to sever ties with Jagan Reddy's party. In January alone, three MPs - Narasaraopet MP Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu, Kurnool MP Sanjeev Kumar, and Machilipatnam MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry - tendered their resignations, signaling a broader trend of dissent within the party ranks.
