In Andhra Pradesh, former YSRCP minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, along with ex-MLAs Samineni Udaya Bhanu and K. Rosaiah, have officially joined the ruling JanaSena Party. The trio, who recently exited the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), were received by JanaSena President and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan at the party headquarters in Mangalagiri on Friday.
The event saw hundreds of enthusiastic Pawan Kalyan supporters attending the event. However, the large gathering soon spiraled into chaos as a stampede occurred, prompting organisers to shift the venue to ensure the safety of all attendees.
Speaking at the event, Udaya Bhanu expressed his admiration for the welfare measures undertaken by the JanaSena Party, which inspired his decision to switch allegiance.
Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, a prominent figure from Prakasam district, had resigned from the YSRCP on September 18, citing dissatisfaction with the party leadership. He emphasised that his move to JanaSena was motivated by a desire for self-respect and dignity rather than personal ambition. "I was never after power, but I believe in maintaining self-respect," said Reddy, as reported by IANS.
Reddy, who was once closely associated with the YS family, admitted that he had opposed several decisions made by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He also revealed that he had faced numerous challenges within the YSRCP, particularly after being dropped from the Cabinet in 2022 despite his seniority and long-standing relationship with the party. His dissatisfaction was further fueled by the retention of Adimulapu Suresh, a fellow leader from the same district, while Reddy himself was sidelined.
Despite these frustrations, Jagan Mohan Reddy had attempted to placate Reddy by appointing him as a regional coordinator, but the former minister's grievances remained unresolved, ultimately leading to his departure from the YSRCP.