New Delhi, June 20: In a major setback to N Chandrababu Naidu, four Rajay Sabha MPs of his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). YS Chowdary, CM Ramesh, Garikapoati Mohan Rao and TG Venkatesh met Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, who is also the chairman of Rajya Sabha, and informed him about their decision "to merge TDP with the BJP" with immediate effect.

The rebel leaders' move has left the TDP in crisis at a time when party chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is on a vacation in the United States along with family members. Ramesh and Chowdary are being investigated by Income Tax, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with bank fraud. Both are considered close to Naidu. Chandrababu Naidu Will Have to Vacate His Undavalli House, Says YSRCP MLA.

The MPs who defected to the BJP will escape anti-defection laws as they havê a 2/3rd majority among the six TDP MPs in Raya Sabha. Ramesh and Chowdary made the first move and then got Venkatesh and Mohan Rao on board to avoid the anti-defection laws, said reports. TDP President of Andhra Pradesh Kala Venkat Rao said that Naidu sent him a message condemning the BJP’s efforts to woo its MPs.

"We fought with BJP only for Special Category Status and the state's interests. We sacrificed Central Ministers for Special Status and condemn attempts of BJP to weaken TDP. The crisis is not new to the party. Leaders and cadre have nothing to be nervous about," said Naidu in a statement. The TDP lost power to YSRCP in the recent Assembly elections. The party could secure only 23 seats of the 151 Assembly seats. It won only three of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 20, 2019 06:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).