Is TDP's firebrand leader Vallabhaneni Vamsi planning to leave the party and join the BJP? A pic doing rounds on the social media shows lanky Vallabhaneni Vamsi sitting along with BJP's union minister Kishan Reddy and former minister Paidikondala Manikyala Rao is at the root of all these rumours.
Vamsi, who is TDP's MLA from Gannavaram, always had a blow-hot-blow-cold relationship with the TDP boss, has always felt that he was not suitably rewarded in the TDP. In fact, his closeness with Vangaveeti Radha and Kodali Nani has always been suspected in the TDP circles. Radha was with the YSRCP till recently, while Nani is a key figure in the YSRCP. So, his meeting Kishan Reddy has sent the TDP into a tizzy. The party has pressed the panic button.
But, sources close to Vamsi say that both Vamsi, Kishan Reddy and Paidikondala Manikyala Rao had attended a programme of Swarna Bharati Trust, run by vice president Venkaiah Naidu's daughter, in Krishna district. It was a courtesy meeting and bothe leaders chatted away about many things and politics did not figure during the talks. There is nothing more to it than this, Vamsi's friends say.
But, with rumours doing the rounds that at least 16 of the 23 TDP MLAs are in touch with the BJP, the TDP is in a panic mode. Despite Vamsi's supporter's assurance, the party leadership is still in confusion. Vamsi is a two-time MLA having won in 2014 and 2019. In 2019, he won by less than 1000 votes.
Vamsi, who is TDP's MLA from Gannavaram, always had a blow-hot-blow-cold relationship with the TDP boss, has always felt that he was not suitably rewarded in the TDP. In fact, his closeness with Vangaveeti Radha and Kodali Nani has always been suspected in the TDP circles. Radha was with the YSRCP till recently, while Nani is a key figure in the YSRCP. So, his meeting Kishan Reddy has sent the TDP into a tizzy. The party has pressed the panic button.
But, sources close to Vamsi say that both Vamsi, Kishan Reddy and Paidikondala Manikyala Rao had attended a programme of Swarna Bharati Trust, run by vice president Venkaiah Naidu's daughter, in Krishna district. It was a courtesy meeting and bothe leaders chatted away about many things and politics did not figure during the talks. There is nothing more to it than this, Vamsi's friends say.
But, with rumours doing the rounds that at least 16 of the 23 TDP MLAs are in touch with the BJP, the TDP is in a panic mode. Despite Vamsi's supporter's assurance, the party leadership is still in confusion. Vamsi is a two-time MLA having won in 2014 and 2019. In 2019, he won by less than 1000 votes.