Former BJP MP J Shantha joins YSRCP, set to contest Hindupur seat in 2024 Lok Sabha elections

The Hindupur Lok Sabha seat is currently held by the YSRCP’s Kuruva Gorantla Madhav.

సీఎం క్యాంప్‌ కార్యాలయంలో ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ వైఎస్‌ జగన్‌ సమక్షంలో వైఎస్సార్‌ కాంగ్రెస్‌ పార్టీలో చేరిన అనంతపురం జిల్లా గుంతకల్లుకు చెందిన మాజీ ఎంపీ జే. శాంత

వాల్మీకి సామాజిక వర్గానికి చెందిన జే. శాంత 2009 లో లోక్‌సభ సభ్యురాలిగా ఎన్నికయ్యారు.

ఈ కార్యక్రమంలో పాల్గొన్న ఎంపీ… pic.twitter.com/cAbLY8POAZ

— YSR Congress Party (@YSRCParty) January 2, 2024

Also read: Why 3 central Andhra YSRCP MPs are seeking an exit

Unsuccessful in Ballari

J Shantha, who has been politically active for 15 years, joined the YSRCP in the presence of party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy in Vijayawada on 2 January. MP P Mithun Reddy was also present.

Shantha, who hails from the Valmiki community, represented the Ballari Lok Sabha seat from 2009 to 2014. She was succeeded by her brother Sriramulu, who won the 2014 elections.

She unsuccessfully contested against Congress V Ugrappa in the 2018 Lok Sabha by-polls from the Ballari seat, losing by a whopping 2.4 lakh votes.

The seat fell vacant after Sriramulu resigned from the Lok Sabha after emerging victorious from the Molkalmuru seat in the 2018 Karnataka Assembly polls.

After the by-polls, Shantha did not fight any of the elections, but continued to participate in party activities in the Ballari region.

After nearly six years, Shantha has become politically active not in Karnataka but in neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Also read: Ambati Rayudu starts political innings, joins YSRCP for 2024 polls

Ticket already promised

Shantha told South First: “I moved to the YSRCP because of the impressive development works being carried out by the leadership of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh.”

She added: “He is working towards the upliftment of Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women. Moreover, my spouse hails from Andhra Pradesh’s Guntkal region.”

Shantha also said: “The party has already promised me a ticket from the Hindupur seat for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It is my personal decision and nothing to do with my brother and the BJP.”

On the rumours of Sriramulu quitting the BJP, Shantha said: “It is all rumour. He won’t join the Congress. He will remain with the BJP.”

She added: “He is actively taking part in party works as well. I have no idea whether he is demanding a party ticket for the general elections from the Ballari seat. I would not like to comment on it.”