In a setback to the beleaguered Congress in Seemandhra, two more leaders from the national party - former minister for forests Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju and MLA Janardhan Thatraj - joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the presence of its president N Chandrababu Naidu here on Sunday.
Former ministers Erasu Pratap Reddy, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, TG Venkatesh and Galla Aruna Kumari have already quit the Congress and switched loyalties to the TDP.
"The creation of a new capital and comprehensive development of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh is possible only under the leadership of Naidu," Raju told mediapersons.
Meanwhile, the Lok Satta Party kicked off its general election campaign in Hyderabad today. At a public meeting titled Eela Bheri, its national president Jayaprakash Narayan said the party was committed to providing good governance, eradicating corruption, ensuring good education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities to all and fighting for decentralisation of power.
Also, former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who floated his own political outfit 'Jai Samaikyandhra Party' recently, launched the party symbol 'Foot Wear' in Visakhapatnam today.
