Post date: Aug 24, 2011 4:42:57 AM
As many as 23 MLAs who had resigned from their posts and respective parties on Monday morning, airdashed to Renigunta in the evening, and left straight for Idupulapaya in the neighboring Kadapa district in luxury buses, trailed by over 200 vehicles.
High drama prevailed at the Renigunta airport from 3 pm onwards when over 500 activists of the YSR Congress party from Tirupati, Chandragiri and Srikalahasti thronged the venue to welcome the MLAs who had resigned. The landing of the Jet Airways flight, laden with the MLAs, was delayed by 30 minutes, due to heavy downpour from Renigunta to Puttur. Earlier, it was believed that the flight might be diverted to Chennai airport. As and when the Jagan group of legislators arrived at the airport, the YSR Congress leaders Mr Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, Mr Palagiri Pratap Reddy and Mr T. Adikesavulu Reddy garlanded them and raised slogans hailing the leadership of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The MLAs included Mr Srikanth Reddy, Mrs Konda Surekha, Mr Katasani Rambhoopal Reddy, Dr Ravi and others. The police had a tough time in controlling the crowds. The district authorities also deployed the Rapid Action Force personnel to man the crowds. Before leaving for Idupulapaya to pay homage to late YSR and officially joining the YSR Congress, Mr Srikanth Reddy flanked by his colleagues launched a scathing attack against the PCC chief, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, and the Tirupati MLA, Mr K. Chiranjeevi. They said that it was unfair on their part to level allegations against the Jagan group, saying that they had taken huge amounts to quit the Congress.
He said that Mr Chiranjeevi took a huge amount for merging his party with the Congress. The MLAs further contended that they had resigned as they were hurt as YSR’s name came up in the FIR. The supporters looked for Ms Jayasudha and Mr Pilli Subash Chandra Bose, but their absence was conspicuous among the group. Later, as the legislators resumed their journey by road, over 200 vehicles trailed them.