Kurnool MP Butta Renuka back in YSR Congress party

Kurnool: MP Butta Renuka is back in the YSR Congress party as the ruling TDP did not offer her ticket either to contest from Lok Sabha constituency or for an Assembly seat.

Renuka along with her husband Neelakantam jointed the YSR Congress party in the presence of party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy at the latter's residence at Lotus Pond in Hyderabad on Saturday.

Renuka as a debutant in politics, contested for Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 with YSRCP ticket and emerged victorious. She had executed development works in Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency utilising the MPLADS funds.

But after continuing in the party for a period of three years, she had shifted her loyalty to the ruling TDP stating that she took the decision to ensure development of the constituency. She continued in the same party expecting TDP ticket to contest for Lok Sabha again.

But, the new entrant into the TDP, former Union Minister Kotla Jaya Suryaprakash Reddy bagged the party's ticket for Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency.

Upset over the decision taken by TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, she had skipped the public meeting addressed by Naidu in Kurnool where Kotla Jaya Suryaprakash Reddy and his wife Sujathamma officially joined the party.

However, she hoped that the TDP would offer her ticket to contest from Adoni Assembly constituency. But her hopes were dashed when the ticket was given to senior leader Meenakshi Naidu.

Subsequently, Renuka reportedly met the Chief Minister in Amaravati and appealed to him to ensure to justice to her. As she could not get proper response from Naidu, She had decided to quit the TDP.

She spoke to YSRCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy two days back and expressed her interest to join the party. She secured an appointment with Jagan on Saturday. Renuka utilised the opportunity to join YSR Congress.

Rumours are doing rounds that T G Bharat, son of TDP Rajya Sabha member T G Venkatesh is also planning to join YSRCP as the ruling party is yet to take a decision on his candidature to fight ensuing polls.