Andhra Pradesh: YSRCP suspends 4 MLAs for ‘cross-voting’ in MLC elections as TDP wins 1 seat

In Thursday’s MLC election for seven vacant seats, the YSRCP won six, while the TDP, which has only 19 MLAs, won one seat. Against all odds, Panchumurthi Anuradha of the TDP won, allegedly with the help of votes from the four YSRCP MLAs.

Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. (Photo Credits: India Today)

By Apoorva Jayachandran : The ruling YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh on Friday suspended four of its MLAs for allegedly cross-voting in the election for seven MLC seats held a day earlier, accusing the TDP of using money to influence them.

Anam Ramanarayana Reddy (Venkatagiri Assembly Constituency), Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy (Udayagiri Assembly Constituency), Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy (Nellore Rural Assembly Constituency) and Vundvalli Sridevi (Tadikonda Assembly Constituency) were suspended from the party. YSRCP general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy announced their suspension.

The party alleged that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu had offered Rs 15-20 crore to each of these MLAs.

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Reddy said that the party found that these four were involved in cross-voting.

“We have conducted an internal investigation on cross-voting. We have taken action against the four people only after that. According to our information, the party believes that money has been exchanged. Chandrababu offered Rs 15-20 crore to each MLA,” Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said.

Sajjala added that the TDP might have also promised tickets to those cross-voted.

In Thursday’s MLC election for seven vacant seats, the YSRCP won six, while the TDP, which has only 19 MLAs, won one seat. Against all odds, Panchumurthi Anuradha of the TDP won, allegedly with the help of votes from the four YSRCP MLAs.

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