Former Dharmavaram MLA Gonuguntla Suryanarayana, who recently quit the TDP and joined the BJP, on Wednesday asked the party cadres to gear themselves up for the simultaneous elections (Jamili elections) being advocated by the Prime Minister, and which could he held any time after 2022.

Addressing his followers at Dharmavaram in the district, Mr. Suryanarayana, popularly known as Varadapuram Suri, said the cadres would be ready to face the challenge from the regional parties.

Mr. Suryanarayana said TDP national president and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had committed a mistake by coming out of the NDA falling into the trap of YSRCP Rajya Sabha member V. Vijaya Sai Reddy.

“Had the TDP remained with the BJP, we all would have been in the ruling party in the State,” he told the followers.

Expressing displeasure over the circumstances under which he had to quit the TDP, Mr. Suryanarayana asked his followers to strive for strengthening the BJP.

“I had to take this decision for protecting the cadres from the attacks they are facing from the ruling party members,” the former MLA said.

“Though Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy gives some enchanting statements sitting in Vijayawada, the ground realities are different,” he alleged.

Mr. Suryanarayana asked people who approached him for pension to submit the applications to him so that he could contact the district Collector for getting them sanctioned.

“If the State government does not implement the proposed schemes, I will get the benefits sanctioned from the Centre,” he said.

“If MLA Kethireddy Venkatarami Reddy works for the welfare of the constituency, let us support him in all possible ways, but let us fight for our rights,” Mr. Suryanarayana added.

Amit Shah visit

He said that Union Home Minister and party president Amit Shah would visit the district by the end of July or in the first week of August.

He asked his followers in the Dharmavaram Assembly constituency to enrol as many members as possible in the drive starting July 6.