In a significant setback for the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh, senior leader and Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Jayamangala Venkatramana resigned from both his party position and his legislative post on Saturday.
Venkatramana submitted his resignation letter to Legislative Council Chairman K. Moshen Raju.
Reports suggest he is currently consulting with close associates about his future, fueling speculation that he might join the ruling coalition.
This resignation is particularly damaging to the YSRCP in Eluru district, as Venkatramana also announced his departure from the party itself.
Expressing dissatisfaction, Venkatramana revealed that despite serving as an MLC in the ruling party for over a year, he was unable to effectively serve the public.
He lamented his lack of authority, saying, “I was given the position, but no power. I couldn’t even make basic phone calls to officials.”
He further alleged that attempts to raise public grievances with party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy were dismissed.
“Whenever I tried to approach Jagan, I was redirected to intermediaries like Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy or Dhanunjaya Reddy, but nothing ever materialized,” he said.
He also claimed that he was denied a meeting with Jagan to discuss urgent public issues.
A former Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader of 23 years, Venkatramana had joined the YSRCP to work for the people of Kolleru. However, he expressed regret over the lack of progress during his tenure with the party.
As a former MLA, Venkatramana vowed to remain accessible to his constituents in Kolleru, regardless of his political affiliations.
He stated that he would consult with his supporters and local leaders before deciding his next political move.