KURNOOL: Kodumur MLA Mani Gandhi has stated that he joined Telugu Desam purely for monetary benefits offered to him while the reason of “constituency development” was just a ploy to bamboozle gullible electorate.
His admission, however, has strengthened the doubts people have in their minds over most MPs’ and MLAs’ excuses for shifting their allegiance to ruling party.
Kurnool district, with solid base of YSRC lost most of the MLAs and two MPs to TD to bargain more funds for the constituencies represented by them. The representatives who shifted allegiance to TD include Srisailam MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy, Allagadda MLA and minister for tourism Bhuma Akhila Priya, Kodumuru MLA Mani Gandhi and Kurnool MLA S.V. Mohan Reddy. Nandyal MLA Bhuma Nagi Reddy, meanwhile, has passed and the seat fell vacant is being represented by TD MLA Bhuma Bramhananda Reddy.
Mani Gandhi, who was elected earlier also on TD ticket from Kodumur, had administration problems within the constituency from Vishnu Vardhan Reddy who is also a TD activist. Mani alleges that Vishnu had siphoned off money collected for membership programme running into lakhs of rupees. He added that the interference of Vishnu in constituency developmental issues has reduced his relevance. Upset with this, he said he had to tell the truth to people that he was bought by TD for money.
However, as an afterthought, he told Deccan Chronicle that he did not mean that insisting that he was happy with TD. Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishna Murthy was his godfather and he works at the call of K.E., said a TD leader.
Meanwhile, the talk of using money to gain MLAs has lowered the image of defected MLAs and MPs.
YSRC Nandyal Parliamentary Constituency in-charge Silpa Chakrapani Reddy said that what Mani Gandhi said was absolutely true and the TD had to do introspection for taking the common public for a ride.
Kurnool MP Butta Renuka who recently joined TD appears to be in a dilemma over continuing with the party or just stay inactive. People close to MP circles said that she was contemplating the subject with her well-wishers and ascertaining the right path for her. She was keen to get re-elected as MP in the next general elections, said her aide.
