Andhra Pradesh Labour Minister G Jayaram Axed From Cabinet After Joining TDP

Jayaram officially joined TDP in Mangalagiri during the BC Declaration meeting in the presence of N Chandrababu Naidu.

Andhra Pradesh Labour Minister G Jayaram was removed from the state Cabinet by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy after he quit YSRCP on Tuesday. Jayaram officially became a member of the TDP in Mangalagiri during the BC Declaration meeting in the presence of N Chandrababu Naidu.

Speaking to a vast gathering of BC leaders and supporters from TDP and JSP statewide, Jayaram criticised Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for allegedly curtailing the independence of SC, ST, BC and minority legislators over the past five years, according to a report on The Hindu.

In a gazette notification, Governor S Abdul Nazeer said, "On the advice of the Chief Minister, I, S Abdul Nazeer, Governor of Andhra Pradesh, do hereby declare that Gummanur Jayaram, ceases to be a Minister from my Council of Ministers of the rank of Cabinet Minister, with immediate effect." 

The governor exercised authority granted by Article 164(1) of the Indian Constitution, reported PTI. Reports suggested that Jayaram was discontent with purported constituency reshuffling for upcoming elections.

During the 2019 elections, Jayaram ran for MLA under the YSRCP banner from Alur constituency competing against Kotla Sujathamma of the TDP. He secured victory with a total of 107,101 votes, including 161 postal votes and 106,940 general votes, accounting for 56% of the total votes cast.

Following the YSRCP's overwhelming victory across the state, they formed the government under the leadership of CM Jagan Mohan Reddy with Jayaram appointed as Minister of Labour, Employment, Training and Factories in Jagan's cabinet.

Last year, several YSRCP officials, including MLAs Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy and Undavalli Sridevi, defected to the TDP. The duo had been suspended by the YSRCP for supporting the TDP candidate during the MLC elections. During that time, TDP chief said the YSRCP boat has developed cracks.