God promise, I didn't vote for TDP: Mekapati

[Anta Assamey]

The four MLAs who were suspended from the YSR Congress party for allegedly cross-voting in favor of the TDP candidate in the MLC elections were obviously expecting a reaction from the party.

However, Udayagiri MLA Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy tried to defend himself, saying he had not made any mistakes.

"I swear to god that I did not defy the party line and voted for the TDP candidate," he clarified.

He said the party had asked him to vote for the official candidate Jayamangala Venkataramana, and he had done the same.

"Somebody has given wrong information to the party leadership that I had cross-voted," Chandrasekhar Reddy said.

The MLA, however, said he was relieved to be suspended from the party.

"If the people appreciate my work and vote for me, I will definitely win my seat again. My conscience is clear, and the people will understand me," he said.

Reacting to the allegations made by party general secretary and advisor to the government Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy that he had taken Rs 20 crore from TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu, the Udayagiri MLA sought to know whether the YSRC leadership would swear to god to substantiate their charges.

Chandrasekhar Reddy said the god would punish those who resorted to excesses.

"Because of some leaders in the party, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and others may have to face humiliation from the people," he said.

The MLA alleged that the high command was encouraging groupism within the party in his constituency.

"The party is least bothered about the developmental works in Udayagiri. The welfare schemes may fetch a good name for Jagan but not the MLA," he said.

Sridevi, who also pleaded innocence in the morning, did not react to the suspension and the allegations made by Sajjala. She went into hiding, even as the YSRC cadres attacked her office at Tadikonda.

Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy said the suspension did not surprise him, as he had been staying away from the party for the last three months.

"But the party should have followed a procedure like issuance of a show-cause notice seeking my explanation," he said.

Anam also preferred to remain silent on his suspension from the party.

[Anta Assamey]