Gangaraju’s family deserts BJP for YSRC

Amaravati: YSRC netted a prized catch on Monday when the entire family of former MP and senior BJP leader Gokaraju Gangaraju joined the party in the presence of chief minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
Although Gangaraju kept away, the decision of his son Rangaraju and brothers Narasimha Raju and Ramaraju to join YSRC is seen as a setback to BJP in expanding the party’s base in the state.
Till Sunday it was said that Gangaraju would join YSRC. However, the former MP stayed away and clarified that he was not fully active in politics. He said his son Rangaraju is a close friend of the chief minister and decided to go with him. He said that his brothers had worked in Congress under the late YSR and they too have decided to join YSRC to strengthen the hands of Jaganmohan Reddy.
“Frankly, I had never played a keen role in active politics. I won Narsapuram Lok Sabha seat in 2014 following pressure from VHP and RSS with which I have been closely associated for several decades. My son’s decision to join YSRC is his personal choice,” said Gangaraju.
Sources said YSRC made a clever move by roping in the family members of Gokaraju Gangaraju to put the maverick Narsapuram MP Raghurama Krishnam Raju in a spot who is deliberately trying to cross the party line on many issues. Raghurama Krishnam Raju is brother-in-law of Gokaraju Gangaraju, who also served as former BCCI vice-president. Speaking to media after joining the party, Ramaraju said the chief minister’s schemes and dedication to uplift the downtrodden sections have attracted them to join the party.