HYDERABAD: B.V. Mohan Reddy, former minister who played a key role in helping NT. Rama Rao take decisions about his political and personal life on the basis of astrology, left the Lakshmi Parvathi camp Thursday, Feb, 29th, to join the Telugu Desam Party (Naidu).
Mr. Reddy went with truckloads of his supporters from Kurnool district to chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s residence Thursday for a 30minute meeting after which he made the announcement.
Mr. Reddy, who had joined N.T. Rama Rao’s TDP when it was formed and was a minisicr.in the first and second tenures Of NTR, claimed that he had decided to respond to Mr. Naidu’s unity call.
Mr, Reddy, who is an MLA, had scotched speculation about his switch ‘over only recently, Thursday, however, Mr, Reddy said he had decided 10 take the step in deference to the wishes of his followers. He said that unity between the TDP groups was important in order to defeat the Congress and the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Mr, Reddy’s defection is considered to be a blow to Ms. Parvathi; He is the eighth MLA who has switched sides since NTR’s death, bringing down the number of legislators still with NTR’s widow to 32.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 6, 1996
