Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu’s political innings in YSRCP ended after just 10 days. Rayudu joined YSRCP on December 28th, 2023, and announced his departure from the party on Twitter on January 6th, 2024. While Rayudu’s joining YSRCP was highly anticipated, his sudden departure has come as a quiet shock to everybody, as nobody expected it. Rayudu did not reveal the reasons behind his decision to part ways with YSRCP but mentioned a temporary withdrawal from politics. He concluded that further action would be conveyed in due course of time. The immediate question on everybody’s mind now is, did Rayudu not receive any assurance from YS Jagan over the Guntur Lok Sabha seat? What actually happened?
This is to inform everyone that I have decided to quit the YSRCP Party and stay out of politics for a little while. Further action will be conveyed in due course of time.
— ATR (@RayuduAmbati) January 6, 2024
Thank You.
Has YSRCP not assured Rayudu of the Guntur Lok Sabha seat?
In 2019, Ambati Rayudu announced his retirement from cricket after being ignored by the selection committee for the Indian team in the World Cup. However, he later took a U-turn and played for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2022, he announced his retirement from the IPL in a tweet, but later deleted it. Finally, in 2023, just a day before the IPL final match between CSK and MI, Rayudu declared his retirement, specifying that there would be no U-turns this time.
It appears that Rayudu is continuing his trend of U-turns in politics, just as he did in cricket, leaving the YSRCP just days after joining. Regarding the reasons behind his decision, Rayudu openly expressed his desire to contest from Guntur, and the party was supposed to decide the segment soon. When Rayudu joined the YSRCP, there was speculation that he might receive the Guntur Lok Sabha ticket. However, doubts are now rising as to whether he left the party because he was not given any assurance regarding the ticket.
According to some reports, the YSRCP intends to field a BC candidate in the Narasaraopet Lok Sabha constituency. Consequently, the party asked Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu to move from the Narasaraopet Lok Sabha seat to the Guntur seat. Currently, the Guntur Lok Sabha seat is represented by Galla Jayadev from TDP, who belongs to the Kamma community. So, Jagan might be thinking that fielding Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, who also belongs to the Kamma community, may work out in the elections for YSRCP.
However, Srikrishna Devarayalu is not happy with the party’s decision and is in a dilemma. Earlier, some speculations suggested that the electronic media advisor to the government and Tollywood comedian Ali are also expecting the Guntur Lok Sabha seat from YSRCP. Meanwhile, Rayudu’s joining in the YSRCP fueled speculation that the party might offer him the Guntur Lok Sabha ticket. However, after Rayudu’s departure, it seems the party is no longer interested in giving him that ticket, which may be the reason for his resignation.
Also Read: Ambati Rayudu Political Innings in YSRCP : Will he contest for Guntur Lok Sabha?
Has Rayudu requested the Ponnuru assembly seat?
One more speculation is making rounds in political circles that Rayudu initially intended to contest for the Guntur Lok Sabha seat but later changed his mind and requested the YSRCP for the Ponnuru assembly seat. The Ponnuru assembly segment is currently represented by YSRCP MLA Kilari Rosaiah, who belongs to the Kapu community, which is also Rayudu’s community. However, YS Jagan did not consider this request from Rayudu and declined, which may have hurt Rayudu and led to his decision to quit the party. According to media reports, he has currently switched off his phone and is not responding to inquiries about his sudden decision to leave the YSRCP.
