4 out of TDP's 6 RS members to back BJP

June 20, 2019 17:44

The Telugu Desam Party is heading for a split in the Rajya Sabha, with at least four of its six MPs deciding to break away and back the ruling BJP.

At least two of these MPs -- YS Chowdary and TG Venkatesh -- have confirmed their decision to join the BJP. The latter is a former member of the BJP's student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, and its young wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.

The four MPs are going to RS chairman Venkaiah Naidu right now to inform him about their decision, highly placed sources added.

Their decision to back the BJP will give a boost to the saffron party in the Upper House as the ruling National Democratic Alliance does not have a majority there yet.

The sources said the breakaway faction may merge with the BJP.

The TDP, which is led by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has six members in the Rajya Sabha. If four of them break away, then it will meet the legal requirement of anti-defection law, which mandates the support of at least two-third members for a split to be recognised in Parliament.

The Rajya Sabha has a strength of 245 members and the BJP is the single largest party with 71 MPs.

Interestingly, back in Andhra Pradesh, 12 MLAs of the TDP are also likely to form a separate group in the Andhra Pradesh assembly.

The leaders blame the crisis on party chief N Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh, who they accuse of blocking access to his father.

Interestingly again, TDP MPs CM Ramesh and YS Chowdary had an hour-long meeting with the Home Minister Amit Shah today.

Image: TDP Rajya Sabha MPs YS Chowdary, TG Venkatesh, and CM Ramesh resign from TDP, submit resignation letter to Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. Photograph: ANI/Twitter

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