After unholy tie-up, YSRC eyes rebels in Congress

Vijayawada: YSR Congress is eyeing the senior Congress leaders to rope into its fold following the unholy election alliance announcement between the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

A section of ardent followers of former chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy and the Congress are continuing in the party. But now they are in dilemma whether to continue in the Congress or join any other political party.

Former minister Vatti Vasantha Kumar and former MP C Ramachandraiah resigned to the party after the announcement of election alliance between Congress and TDP. They have been arch rivals of N Chandrababu Naidu.

Now, the YSRCP has plans to attract such kind of leaders. It is making efforts to strengthen the party by encouraging defections in other parties and inviting like-minded people into party fold.

Several senior Cong leaders like Undavalli Arun Kumar, Dronamraju Srinivas, Sabbam Hari, Konathala Ramakrishna, Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy and A Venkatrami Reddy remained silent since the bifurcation of the state.

Similarly, several second rung leaders are also continuing in the party. All these leaders are staunch supporters of the Congress and some of them are followers of former Chief Minister YSR.