In a stunning political upset, veteran YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and MLC Marri Rajasekhar has resigned from both his party and legislative roles. His surprise resignation on Wednesday was followed by an even larger political shocker—his joining of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday.
Marri’s departure has caused waves in YSRCP, with some leaders, notably veteran politician Botsa Satyanarayana, trying to induce him to change his mind. However, he stood firm, asserting that his decision was final and there was no turning back.
Addressing the media, Marri levelled some brazen charges against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, alleging that he didn’t keep his promises. He revealed that Jagan had offered him a ministerial berth in 2019, but Vidudala Rajini was awarded that instead. Though he suffered the setback, he still stood by him in the hope of being treated well in the future. He was, however, only offered an MLC position, while Rajini was promoted as a minister.
When the 2024 elections came around, Marri was expecting a well-deserved chance but was again bypassed. He was disappointed that Jagan opted to nominate the Guntur Mayor as Chilakaluripet candidate while readopting Rajini as constituency in-charge, even though she had lost the election.
Perceiving himself to be isolated and neglected in the party, Marri ultimately decided to resign, laying the blame for his departure at Jagan’s door. His switch to TDP is also likely to carry significant political weight, contributing further to pre-poll tension within Andhra Pradesh.