The fast changing landscape in Kurnool district politics took another shape with the ruling Telugu Desam Party getting a jolt today. Former minister and TDP party in-charge of Nandyal Silpa Mohan Reddy, formally quit and joined the rival, YSR Congress party.

His quitting was on the cards ever since his rival family leader Bhuma Nagi Reddy's daughter Bhuma Akhila Priya (MLA from Allagadda) was given the cabinet berth by Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu in April.

Silpa Mohan Reddy joined YSRCP in the presence of its President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in Hyderabad this morning. The decision came after the leader held extensive meetings with his followers and TDP functionaries in Nandyal.

A couple of days ago, he alleged that the TDP leadership right from the CM were sidelining him in the affairs of the district and party, though the family has been loyal for long.

It's no secret that he and his brother Silpa Chakrapani Reddy, MLC and district president of TDP have been unhappy ever since Naidu admitted the Bhuma family in 2015, overruling their reservations. Also Silpa Mohan Reddy has been aspiring for the Nandyal Assembly seat, which fell vacant due to the sudden demise of Bhuma Nagi Reddy in March. His efforts to win Naidu's favour through repeated meetings in Vijayawada and discussions seem to have failed.

He is the second important leader from Kurnool to quit the TDP. The Gangula family switched to YSRCP a few months ago and Gangula Prabhakar Reddy was rewarded with a MLC seat. There is much excitement about what Chakrapani Reddy would do now.

The TDP and YSR CP have been at logger heads and poaching each other's leaders and cadres ever since the 2014 bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The political rivalry has also led to a couple of ghastly murders in the district.

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