TDP leader Subbarayudu joins Chiranjeevi's party

Hyderabad, March 21 (IANS) The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh Saturday received a big jolt as its senior leader and former minister K. Subbarayudu joined Praja Rajyam party of actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi.

Subbarayudu, who was president of TDP's West Godavari district unit, joined the Praja Rajyam at a massive public meeting of the party at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad in the evening.

Subbarayudu was energy minister in the previous Chandrababu Naidu cabinet and his exit is seen as a big blow to the party in coastal Andhra.

Subbarayudu is a Kapu, the community to which Chiranjeevi belongs and he also comes from the native district of the megastar.

This is the latest in a series of resignation of top TDP leaders. Last week, TDP vice president G. Sukhender Reddy joined the ruling Congress.

However, a majority of the leaders who quit the TDP in recent months have joined Praja Rajyam. It was in July last year that T. Devender Goud, who was holding number two position in the party, quit to form a separate outfit. He recently merged his outfit with Praja Rajyam.

Several former ministers K. Vidyadhar Rao, Tammineni Sitaram, Bhuma Nagi Reddy, Shobha Nagi Reddy, Kala Venkat Rao and S.V. Subba Reddy have quit the TDP and joined Chiranjeevi's party.