Senior TDP leader and ex-minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao has staunchly closed down persistent rumors that he is set to join the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). In the aftermath of increasing speculations across social media, Uma resorted to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday to totally dismiss the allegations as being absolutely baseless and politically motivated.
For the last few days, there have been a number of online posts suggesting that Uma may be changing loyalties, particularly after being refused a ticket in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections. He has since been waiting to get a nominated seat in the TDP government, which has fueled speculations that he may be unhappy with the internal party decisions. Reacting straight to the rumor-mongering, Uma said that he has no plans to resign from the Telugu Desam Party and labeled the gossip as a phase of a fabricated story peddled by the opposition.
A Krishna district warhorse, Devineni Uma has been a reliable figure in the TDP circles for decades. He is MLA from Nandigama and Mylavaram and Irrigation Minister from 2014 to 2019 in Chandrababu Naidu’s government. He was not able to contest from Nandigama as it was an SC reserved constituency in the 2024 elections, and Mylavaram was allocated to Vasantha Krishna Prasad, who had switched from YSRCP.
After the TDP-JSP-BJP alliance came to power, there was strong buzz that Uma would be given a key position. Initially, it was rumored that he would be appointed as APSRTC Chairman, but the role eventually went to Konakalla Narayana, another senior leader from Krishna district. Although Uma’s name has surfaced in discussions around Rajya Sabha and MLC nominations, no formal announcement has been made so far. This delay further fueled social media speculation about his political future.
With the rumors intensifying, TDP cadres and supporters grew anxious, especially considering the Devineni family’s four-decade-long association with the TDP. Addressing these concerns, Uma posted a sharp rebuttal aimed at YSRCP and its leadership. Tagging Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, he wrote:
“Even after being reduced to just 11 seats, your party continues to spread fake propaganda. Have you really fallen so low to save your existence?”
He also condemned the YSRCP’s strategy, saying that the opposition is shaken by the TDP alliance’s administration in its first year and is going desperate to propagate false information. Uma warned that if this practice continues, YSRCP may not be able to even win a single seat in 2029 elections.
With such a strong denial, Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao not only rejected the gossip but also made it absolutely clear that his allegiance to Telugu Desam Party is still unshakeable. His declaration serves as a strong comfort to party members and supporters who were made nervous by the rumors, introducing solidity and transparency to the political environment in the Krishna district.