Telugu Desam party is facing a storm in Andhra Pradesh. Within days of party's most influential leader in Telangana region, T Devender Goud, quitting its ranks to form his own party, the TDP has loss yet another strong leader -- this time in the Rayala Seema region.
Bhuma Nagi Reddy, who was elected thrice to the Lok Sabha from Nandyal constituency and twice as legislator from Allagadda constituency, has resigned from the party to join the proposed party of popular Telugu cine star Chiranjeevi.
Shobha, wife of Nagi Reddy and former TDP legislator, has also quit the party.
The political couple, who constituted the major force in the Nandyal region of Kurnool district, announced their decision at a meeting before their supporters and TDP workers.
Bhuma Nagi Reddy, also known to be a faction leader in his home turf, is the son-in-law of another important TDP leader and former minister S V Subba Reddy.
All three had been lying low in the party for quiet some time.
Bhuma was angered when his rival and former minister N Mohammed Farooq was made in charge of the Nandyal constituency.
"We were not getting the due importance and value in the party," said Bhuma Nagi Reddy, justifying his decision to quit the TDP.
"We have taken this decision in accordance with the wishes of our supporters," he said.
The couple is expected to call on Chiranjeevi later.
Bhuma is not the first leader of the TDP to head towards Chiranjeevi's camp.
K Vidydhar Rao, a former minister and a key leader in coastal Andhra Pradesh, had also come out openly in support of Chiranjeevi for which he was suspended by the party.
There are speculations within the TDP that several other leaders, not very hopeful of Naidu leading the party to power in the next elections, were exploring the possibility of switching their loyalties to Chiranjeevi.
The names of Acham Naidu, brother of TDP parliamentary party leader K Yerran Naidu, and Yanamala Krishnudu are doing rounds in this context. KSR Murthy, the former MP of TDP from East Godavari district, has also joined the Chiranjeevi camp and has been appointed as its spokesman.
As Chiranjeevi hails from the coastal Andhra region, his party may attract several TDP leaders in that region.
The TDP is suffering serious setbacks at a time when Naidu has just completed 75 days of his 150-day Mee Kosam Yatra in Andhra Pradesh.
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