YSRCP MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy quits alleging phone tapping; party and Govt denies charge

"I am being suspected of what I do not know but I have plenty of evidence that my phones are being tapped", said the two-time MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy.

Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, indian express

YSR Congress Party’s MLA from Nellore Rural Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy. (Photo source: Twitter/ Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy)

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The ruling YSR Congress Party’s MLA from Nellore Rural Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy announced his resignation from the party Wednesday, accusing the government of tapping his phones. Sridhar Reddy said he had proof that the state government and party were snooping on him and he was hurt by it.

“I am being suspected of what I do not know but I have plenty of evidence that my phones are being tapped. Some people tell me that I am in touch with leaders of other parties. I am hurt that I have been suspected. I cannot continue in a party which suspects me. Elections are still 15 months away but I am quitting so you can understand how I feel. What will happen after 15 months in the elections no one knows. How people will treat me when I contest from some other party, no one knows but I cannot continue anymore,” said the two-time MLA.

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“I have been a YSR family loyalist for nearly 30 years. I have been with Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy through his bad times and good times. But I am very aggrieved that the party is tapping my phones,” he said.

Reddy accused Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, Advisor, Public Affairs, of ordering surveillance on him. Sridhar Reddy also claimed several other party MLAs and a few MPs have told him about their suspicions of their phones being tapped.

Sridhar Reddy said he was feeling suffocated in the party and accused Ongole MLA Balineni Srinivasa Reddy of telling him to get lost from the party. “Balineni told me that they cannot wait to get rid of him. He asked me to go and join the TDP as soon as possible. I believe those are not Balineni’s words but the CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s words.”

Reacting to Sridhar Reddy’s allegations, Srinivasa Reddy said he was just trying to create a scenario so that he could justify quitting the party. “He wants to defect to the TDP and he feels he needs to give a reason. It is up to him if he wants to quit but these allegations of phone tapping are ridiculous,” said the minister.

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Srinivasa Reddy said Telegu Desam Party leaders were already discussing fielding Sridhar Reddy in the 2024 elections so the party feels he has already made arrangements with the TDP.

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Agriculture Minister K Govardhan Reddy, who held consultations with Nellore district party leaders, said Sridhar Reddy did not bring the issue of phone tapping to his notice. “He has not spoken with me about his allegations neither has he approached the CM,” he said.

Sources in the YSRCP said party leaders were in touch with Venkatagiri (Tirupati district) MLA Anam Ramanaryana Reddy who they feel may also quit the party.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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