8 Congress MLCs join TDP in Andhra Pradesh

In a significant political development that will improve the Telugu Desam's strength in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, eight Congress MLCs crossed over to the ruling party today.
The Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu here this evening and joined TDP.
"The MLCs have reposed faith in Chandrababu's leadership and want to contribute in the new state's development," TDP MP C M Ramesh said.
The MLCs are Chaitanya Raju, his son Ravi Varma, Srinivasulu Naidu, B Pullaiah, Sheik Hussain, Reddappa Reddy, Lakshmi Siva Kumari and B Indira.
With their entry, the TDP will not only enjoy majority in the Council but may also wrest the Chairman's post.

Though it has a full majority in the AP Legislative Assembly, TDP has only seven members in the 50-member divided Legislative Council.

Congress has 20 members, including the Chairman, while YSR Congress and CPI have one each. There are 12 independents and nine seats are vacant.
Rival party MLCs gradually started moving towards the TDP for the last few days. Chaitanya Raju and Ravi Varma were the first to meet Chandrababu a few days ago to "congratulate" him on becoming the Chief Minister.
Subsequently, other MLCs got in touch with TDP leaders like Ramesh and expressed their intention to cross over, TDP sources said.

"They are inspired by Chandrababu's leadership and convinced that only he can develop AP. Hence they have decided to join our party," Ramesh said, adding that some more MLCs too would follow the suit.