In a setback to YSR Congress, its Dalit leader, Jupudi Prabhakar Rao, who is also an MLC, on Saturday quit the party alleging that there was no place for the genuine followers of late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in it and that only relatives of the party chief were ruling the roost.

Announcing his decision at a press conference here, Mr. Prabhakar Rao said he was particularly pained at party MP from Ongole Y.V. Subba Reddy’s comments that he did not knew who Prabhakar Rao was, when the summons pertaining to a political case were served against seven of the party leaders, including he and Mr. Subba Reddy. “The party started distancing me after the elections. It has engaged a lawyer to argue the case for six leaders, while I was forced to go make my own arrangements,” Mr. Rao stated. However, he had sailed with the party digesting the insult due to his respect for YSR, he said. Party MP from Araku Kothapalli Geetha was also being meted out a similar treatment in the party now, he said.

Alleging that he was defeated in the Assembly election from Kondepi in Prakasam district due to Mr. Subba Reddy, Mr. Prabhakar Rao said: “He gave money to my opponents to ensure my defeat.” The situation in the party was so bad that even two leaders could not sit together and talk in the party office, he explained.

Stating that insecurity was prevailing among party leaders and added that survival of such a party in the long run was very difficult. “Mr. Subba Reddy’s candidature has led to defeat in the Kondepi, Darsi and Ongole Assembly seats and he is not in talking terms with Balineni Srinivasa Reddy even now,” he said. He had brought the matter to the notice of party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy after the elections, but to no avail. Mr. Prabhakar Rao also resigned to the posts of central council member and official spokesperson in the party by sending his letter to the party chief.