Vangaveeti Radha quits YSRCP

Vijayawada: The YSR Congress on Sunday suffered a major jolt just a few months ahead of the general election. Former MLA and late Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga’s son Vangaveeti Radha Krishna resigned from the YSR Congress questioning the style of functioning of the party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy. Radha Krishna in his letter to Jagan said the party was putting several restrictions on his functioning.

He said it may be necessary for Jagan to impose restrictions on him as he hopes to become the Chief Minister but working for the people is equally important for Radha as his father was still alive in the hearts of the people and it was his responsibility to work for their welfare and fight against suppression and hence he has decided to resign from the party.

Taken aback by this sudden development, YSRCP senior leader Botsa Satyanarayana spoke to Radha and told him not to take any hasty decision and that he would try to resolve the issue by organising a meeting with Jagan. Radha is said to have told him that he has been patiently waiting for over seven months but Jagan failed to respond.

Speculation is rife for a while that Radha was unhappy over the party granting Malladi Vishnu who joined the party in 2017 the post of coordinator. Things reportedly have taken a heated turn after he got to know that the party is considering Vishnu for the Vijayawada Central ticket. The party offered him Vijayawada East constituency or Machilipatnam Parliament seat.

Radha, who was with the Congress, was denied Vijayawada Central ticket, the seat he had won as an MLA in 2004. In 2009, he contested on Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) ticket but lost. He lost again in 2014 contesting on YSRCP ticket. This time around, Radha and his allies are determined to prove that they still enjoy influence in the region and are irked at reports that the ticket might go to Malladi Vishnu.

Talking to the media after submitting his resignation, Radha said that he would announce his decision in the next couple of days after consulting his associates. Meanwhile, TDP leader Budda Venkanna said that if Radha wants to join the TDP, the party would welcome him.  TDP leaders have been in close contact with Radha for the past few months. He was even offered MLC seat sometime back.