Andhra Pradesh politics is undergoing yet another major change as Zakia Khanam, a senior party leader of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Deputy Chairperson of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, has formally resigned as a member of the party as well as the position. Her resignation is one of the persistent trends of leaving the party that has added to the rising speculations in wake of YSRCP’s latest electoral defeat.
Zakia Khanam, appointed as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in July 2020 under the Governor’s quota, has chosen to resign both her position and party membership. Her resignation letter was handed over by her personal staff to the office of the Legislative Council. The action brings her name onto the growing list of MLCs who have cut their links with the party, indicating increasing unrest among YSRCP ranks.
Rayachoti native Khanam was appointed the Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council. However, whispers about her increasing disgruntlement with the party leadership have been doing the rounds for some time. Her rising absence from party activities and events appeared to indicate disgruntlement, which has now culminated in her resignation.
Khanam’s move follows the recent resignations of several other top YSRCP leaders, including Marri Rajasekhar, Jayamangala Venkataramana, Kalyan Chakravarthy, Karri Padmashree, and Pothula Sunitha.
Speculation regarding Khanam’s next step has been fueled following her meeting with TDP chief Nara Lokesh, when she and her family welcomed him with a traditional shawl. This move was just the stuff of rumors that she is about to join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), yet another political flip in the political map of Andhra Pradesh.
As YSRCP continues to lose prominent leaders, all eyes are on whether the party can regain its stability or if this marks the beginning of further political fractures.