Four TDP Rajya Sabha members join BJP Thursday June 20,2019

Four Telugu Desam Party’s Rajya Sabha Members including former Union Minister and Parliamentary Party leader Y.S. Chowdary, have quit the party to join BJP. The number of TDP members in the upper House will now be down to two.

Mr. Chowdary confirmed that he is joining the BJP. He is expected to be joined by T.G. Venkatesh, G. Mohan Rao and C.M. Ramesh. Mr. Venkatesh also confirmed the move and added that he was a former member of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and BJP youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, so the move was only obvious.

“Inspired and encouraged by the impeccable leadership of Narendra Modiji and developmental policies being pursued by him in the overall interest of the nation, we have decided to merge with the BJP with immediate effect,” a resolution of legislature party of TDP in Rajya Sabha signed by Mr. Chowdary read.

The resolution argued that as per the tenth schedule of the Constitution — which prescribes the anti-defection law — two-thirds of a legislature party can shift loyalities without losing their membership.