The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) is also experiencing a political crisis in Andhra Pradesh, as some of its top leaders quit the party following its loss in the recent Assembly elections. The most recent massive blow came in Ongole, with Deputy Mayor Madhav and 20 corporators quitting the party to join the Jana Sena Party, greatly diminishing YSRCP’s stronghold in the area.
All of these defections have happened under the sight of Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan and senior leader Balineni Srinivasa Reddy. Balineni, who sat in the ranks of YSRCP, quit the party after the election results and then joined Jana Sena. Since then, he has been trying to gain strength in the party’s stronghold in Ongole, being able to bring disgruntled YSRCP members into the fold.
The Ongole Municipal Corporation consists of 50 divisions, where YSRCP initially dominated with 41 elected corporators. With two independent candidates also joining the party, its strength rose to 43, securing the Mayor’s position for Gangada Sujatha. However, after losing power at the state level, the party’s control in Ongole started slipping. Mayor Sujatha and 19 corporators defected to the TDP in the presence of MLA Damacharla Janardhan, further reducing YSRCP’s numbers.
With the latest exits of the Deputy Mayor and 20 more corporators to Jana Sena, YSRCP now holds just four corporator positions in Ongole. Meanwhile, TDP’s strength has increased to 25, and Jana Sena has grown to 21, effectively giving the ruling alliance full control over the municipal corporation.
The political shift isn’t confined to Ongole alone. In Tuni, Kakinada district, five YSRCP councillors recently defected to TDP under the leadership of senior leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu. With most councillors now supporting TDP, YSRCP’s influence in the region has further weakened.
Such high-level defections reflect increasing frustration within YSRCP and continue to strengthen the TDP-Jana Sena alliance’s control over local administration. With further political realignments, the ruling coalition is increasingly solidifying its grip throughout Andhra Pradesh.