It is number 15 in the 'defection' order as Srisailam MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy crossed over to the Telugu Desam (TDP) from YSR Congress.
At the "auspicious" time of 9.05 AM, Rajasekhar met TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the latter's riverfront residence and got the yellow scarf adorned, marking his admission into the ruling party.
Rajasekhar was also the Kurnool district unit president of YSRC. He is the fourth MLA of YSRC from Kurnool district to defect to the TDP.
In fact, the defection of legislators from the lone opposition party to the ruling party started with two MLAs from Kurnool district on February 22.
Now, four MLAs in all have crossed over to the TDP, reducing the YSRC strength in the district to seven.
Kurnool district had been one of the bastions of the YSRC but now it appears to be crumbling.
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"Since I also support the Patel quota agitation,
people allege I have taken money as a gift for supporting the stir. But, I have not taken any money. Haresh himself told me he will donate Rs 4 crore to party (BJP) when he gets clearance from the government (for construction)," said Kotadiya.
On this, Patel remained silent and asked Kotadiya not to talk all this issues on phone and advised the MLA to meet him personally.
In his complaint, Madhubhai has alleged Kotadiya demanded the money for having written a letter to authorities one-and-a-half years ago to facilitate permission for construction on the farmland owned by Haresh.
However, Kotadiya has claimed he was being falsely implicated because of his support to the Patel quota stir.
Kotadiya won from Dhari as the candidate of Gujarat Parivartan Party, floated by former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, which merged with BJP two years ago.
However, BJP is upset with him for his critical comments about the ruling party and its leaders in recent times.
