The drama that unfolded between TDP and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) over last week ahead of the Mayoral elections has left both citizens and political analysts in the State perplexed.
With the required numbers on its side, the TDP initially appeared not only confident, but also reportedly laid back. Seizing an opportunity, former Minister P. Anil Kumar Yadav allegedly entered the scene overnight and poached back a bulk of candidates into the YSRCP.
As a result, the TDP leadership led by Minister and Nellore MLA Ponguru Narayana, Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, party district president and A.P. Waqf Board Chairman Abdul Azeez and district leader Kotamreddy Giridhar Reddy allegedly brought back a bunch of them into its fold, and shifted them to an undisclosed destination.
Corporators belonging to both parties were allegedly seen switching loyalties, creating confusion on both the sides.
The biggest jolt for the YSRCP came on Sunday, when the party’s city president Bobbala Srinivas Yadav, who was also its floor leader in the NMC, joined TDP in the presence of MLA Sridhar Reddy. Another corporator Sheikh Karimulla joined the alliance in the presence of Minister P. Narayana.
The fate of Mayor Potluri Sravanthi Jayavardhan was slated to be decided at a key meeting on December 18, after a bulk of the corporators belonging to the TDP-led NDA alliance contemplated a no-confidence motion last week.
Putting an end to the week-long drama, she submitted her resignation to the District Collector on Sunday, obviating the need for the motion. She, however, flayed the ruling alliance of resorting to harassment of her party corporators, including women, and announced to remain in touch with the public.
Published – December 14, 2025 07:55 pm IST
