CBI is investigating Mr. Chowdary in a bank fraud case, while Mr. Ramesh and Mr. Venkatesh's business premises and homes were raided by I-T Department during polls.

Less than a month after the Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls verdict in which the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was wiped out, four of its six Rajya Sabha members, including Parliamentary Party leader and former Union Minister Y.S. Chowdary, on Thursday quit it to join the BJP.

Along with Mr. Chowdary, C.M. Ramesh, T.G. Venkatesh and Garikapati Mohan Rao have quit the party. The TDP legislative party in the Rajya Sabha passed a resolution as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, according to which two-thirds of a legislature party can shift loyalties without losing their membership.

“Inspired and encouraged by the impeccable leadership of Narendra Modiji and developmental policies being pursued by him in the overall interest of the nation, we have decided to merge with the BJP with immediate effect,” the resolution signed by Mr. Chowdary read. They met Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to submit the resolution.

Four TDP MPs meet Rajya Sabha Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu, along with BJP Working president J.P. Nadda and Leader of the House Thawar Chand Gehlot. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The CBI is investigating Mr. Chowdary in a case of bank fraud. Mr. Ramesh and Mr. Venkatesh's business premises and homes were raided by the Income Tax Department during the elections.

Chandrababu Naidu’s effort

Former Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is abroad, spoke to Mr. Chowdary to dissuade him from leaving the party. The TDP leaders have cited “lack of accountability” for the party’s recent poll debacle as the reason for leaving it.

According to top TDP leaders, the four defectors had asked other colleagues to join in too. "We have been hearing the buzz that they plan to quit for the last 15 days. In fact, they had approached some us to join them too,” a TDP MP said.

From 126 seats, the TDP is down to 23 in the Assembly. Many of its stalwarts, including Mr. Naidu’s son Nara Lokeshlost in the recent polls. In the Lok Sabha, they are down from 15 to three seats.

The BJP formally inducted the four MPs at a press meet in New Delhi. Mr. Chowdary, Mr. Venkatesh and Mr. Ramesh were present at the induction, while Mr. Rao, who was not physically present, as he suffered from a sprained ankle, sent in a written acquiescence. The inductions happened in the presence of BJP working president J.P. Nadda and leader of the House Thawar Chand Gahlot.

“Dynamic leadership of Modi”

“The TDP MPs had been feeling for a long time that looking at the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Modi and organisational skill of Amit Shahji, they should join the BJP,” Mr. Nadda told reporters. The entry of the four MPs would strengthen the BJP in Andhra Pradesh, he said.

The BJP did not win a single seat in the Lok Sabha or Assembly polls in the State.

“I want to assure the MPs that the BJP believes in the politics of positivism and inclusiveness. All four of them are leaders with ground support in Andhra Pradesh and we hope to strengthen the BJP in that State,’’ Mr. Nadda said.

The MPs met Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah after their induction.

Mr. Chowdary said his experience in working in Mr. Modi's Cabinet helped in making the decision. “We are going by the country's mood, which is for the BJP,” he said.