Cong MLA Dharmana joins Jagan's YSRCP

In a setback to ruling Congress in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, senior MLA and ex-minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, along with several party leaders, on Sunday joined Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party, apparently in protest against division of the state to create Telangana.

Besides Rao, Visakhapatnam (North) MLA T Vijay Kumar, Palasa MLA Jagannayakulu and their followers also switched over to YSRCP in the presence of Jagan at Srikakulam.

Another leader to join the YSRCP is late chief minister N T Rama Rao's widow Lakshmi Parvathi who has been the supporter of Jagan.

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A senior Congress legislator from Srikakulam, Prasada Rao was instrumental in ensuring victory of Congress candidates in 2004 and 2009 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

He was Revenue Minister in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government and faced allegations over industrial land allotments made during his tenure.

Political observers feel the migration of Congress leaders in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema would only increase once the issue of division of Andhra Pradesh reached its logical conclusion.

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Congress leaders in the two regions (together called as Seemandhra) have been facing flak over the division of the state.