Senior Telugu Desam Party leader Karnam Balarama Krishnamurthy has dismissed as rumours that he was planning to join the Opposition YSRC repordely “upset with his losing prominence in the ruling party”.
The seasoned politician from Addanki in Prakasam district: “I have good understanding with party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu. I have no intention to quit the party.”
It was rumoured that the former TDP MP had received an invite from the Opposition party to cross over.
Mr. Krishnamurthy had refrained from contesting the general election last year. But, he managed to get the party ticket for the Addanki Assembly seat for his son Karnam Venkatesh, who, however lost to Gottipatti Ravikumar who had switched over on the poll eve to the YSRC after serving as Congress MLA.
On his loyalists being upset with the TDP leadership for denying him the MLC seat and Ministership, Mr. Krishnamurthy explained the circumstances under which TDP leader Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy was given the party ticket for the MLC seat to wean away YSRC local body representatives, whose support was crucial to win the MLC election.
“In-fact, Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy was keen on getting elected to the Rajya Sabha, but was persuaded to fight the MLC elections instead as insisted by the party high command,” he said.
