TDP loses two MLAs to Chiranjeevi's party

Hyderabad (PTI): TDP suffered yet another blow on Thursday with the resignation of a senior party leader who joined Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam.

MLA Kimidi Kalavenkata Rao, one of the senior most party members along with MLA Kambala Jogulu quit TDP and joined Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party in their native Srikakulam district on Thursday.

Kalavenkata Rao was an influential leader of the TDP in the northern coastal Andhra region and had been with the party since its inception in 1982.

An ardent follower of TDP founder-president N.T. Rama Rao and Kalavenkata was elected as an MLA for four terms from Unukuru in Srikakulam district. He held important portfolios like home, municipal administration and commercial taxes in the cabinets of NTR and Chandrababu Naidu.

He also served one term as member of Rajya Sabha.

"I have nothing against the TDP high command," Rao said while announcing his decision to quit the party with which he has been associated for over 26 years.

Jogulu a close follower of Kalavenkata Rao has been representing Palakonda constituency in the State Assembly since 2004.