8230;meanwhile, all146;s not well within TDP as members quit

On Sunday, in a major setback to the party, former MP Bhuma Nagireddy and his wife, party general secretary Sobha Nagi Reddy, resigned. The couple, who had been with the TDP for more than 25 years, quit after a meeting with their supporters in their traditional stronghold, Kurnool.

As Bhuma Nagireddy is a powerful leader in the district, several other leaders also put in their papers. Although he claimed to be on a strong political footing in the district, he felt if film star Chiranjeevi launched his party, his support base would be wiped out.