In a major setback to the opposition YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh, the Deputy Chairperson of the state Legislative Council, Mayana Zakia Khanam, has quit the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Khanam became the first Muslim woman member of the Legislative Council in July 2020 when she was nominated by then Governor Biswabhushan Harichandran under the Governor’s quota. In November 2021, she was elevated to the post of Deputy Chairperson.
The leaders of the state BJP unit were present in full strength to welcome Khanam into the party fold, including state president and Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeswari, state Health Minister and BJP MLA Y Satya Kumar.
Claiming that Khanam joined the BJP as she was inspired by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Purandeswari, who is the daughter of the matinee idol of Telugu cinema and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late N T Rama Rao, reiterated the BJP slogan of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”.
“We deliver welfare beyond caste and religion and focus on the underprivileged and marginalised sections. Khanam’s induction reflects a major shift and strengthens our commitment to inclusive leadership, while signaling a growing trust for the party among minorities,” she said.
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Seen as a popular Muslim face of the YSRCP, Khanam joins a list of high-profile leaders who have quit the party following the drubbing received by it in last year’s simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, where it was reduced to four and 11 seats respectively.
Since its defeat, the YSRCP, headed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has been facing a steady desertions by leaders, including Jagan’s long-time aide and former Rajya Sabha MP V Vijayasai Reddy, and MPs Mopidevi Venkataramana, Beedha Mastan Rao and R Krishnaiah. While Rao is now a TDP Rajya Sabha MP, Krishnaiah was nominated to the Upper House by the BJP.
Khanam’s resignation further reduces the YSRCP’s tally in the 58-member Upper House, though the party still enjoys a majority in the Council.
Its MLCs Balli Kalyan Chakravarthy, Karri Padmasri, Pothla Suneetha, Marri Rajasekhar and Jayamangala Venkataramana have already resigned from the party. Since none of the resignations has been accepted yet, the YSRCP’s tally in the House still stands at 32. The ruling TDP-BJP-Jana Sena Party (JSP) have 10, one and two members respectively, while the Council has five Independents and eight nominated members.
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