3 TDP leaders leave party, join YSR Congress

: With just two days to go for the nomination process to begin for the April 11 elections, political defections have gained pace in Andhra Pradesh with three leaders leaving the ruling Telugu Desam Party and joining the main opposition YSR Congress.

Kurnool MP Butta Renuka, who 'associated' herself with the TDP two years ago, returned to her parent YSRC Saturday evening while MLC Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy too switched over to the opposition party.

The two were admitted into the YSRC by party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

Renuka was denied the Kurnool Lok Sabha seat as former Union Minister Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy joined the TDP from the Congress.

She was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time as the YSRC nominee from Kurnool in 2014.

TDP also denied Renuka the Yemmiganuru Assembly ticket, leaving her sulking.

Srinivasulu Reddy sought to contest the Lok Sabha poll from Ongole, but the TDP wanted to field him from Nellore.

Peeved, he quit the TDP and also the Council ...