Kanna Lakshminarayana all set to join YSRCP

Former Minister and senior BJP leader Kanna Lakshminarayana is all set to join YSR Congress Party on Wednesday in the presence of party president Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy in Krishna district. Mr. Lakshminarayana, whose name was in contention till the last minute for the post of BJP State unit president, made up his mind on Monday after the name of Somu Veeraju, MLC, was tipped for the post.

“I have joined the BJP after severing my ties with Congress and since then has been contributing to the party with utmost sincerity. I have toured the entire State bolstering the ranks of partymen, but the party leadership ignored me on the pretext that I was once a Congressman. This pained me and after consulting my supporters, I have decided to join the YSRCP,’’ Mr. Lakshminarayana told The Hindu on Monday.

The former Minister’s home at Kannavarithota witnessed a surge of his supporters on a day of dramatic developments. Some ruling party leaders are also trying to persuade him to join the party. But, Mr. Lakshminarayana politely refused the offer.

Mr. Lakshminarayana is set to leave Guntur for Vijayawada on Wednesday in a huge rally and meet Mr. Jagan in the evening.

The former Minister might seek a Lok Sabha seat or opt to contest from Pedakurapadu Assembly segment from where he had won four consecutive elections.

A staunch Congressman who began his political innings with National Students Union of India, Mr. Lakshminarayana was first elected from Pedakurapadu Assembly segment in 1989. He had served in the Cabinets of former Chief Ministers N. Janardhana Reddy, K. Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, K. Rosaiah and Kiran Kumar Reddy.