YSRCP loses two RS MPs as Mastan Rao and Mopidevi resign

NEW DELHI: In a big setback to the YSR Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP, two Rajya Sabha MPs have resigned from the party and their membership in the Upper House.

Two YSRCP members of the Rajya Sabha — Beedha Mastan Rao Jadhav and Venkataramana Rao Mopidevi — have tendered their resignation from Upper House membership, parliamentary sources said on Thursday. Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar is learnt to have accepted their resignation.

Mastan Rao, whose term was to end in June 2028, had switched from the TDP to the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP). He is likely to go back to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Mopidevi, whose term was till June 2026, may also join the TDP, the sources said. Following the two resignations, the strength of the YSRCP in the Upper House of Parliament has dipped from 11 to nine.

The TDP, which is a key NDA partner, has no representation in the Rajya Sabha.

It has been learnt that Mastan Rao could be fielded by the TDP in the by-poll, but Mopidevi is not keen on entering the Rajya Sabha again.

In the resultant by-polls, the TDP could get seats in the Rajya Sabha. As a result, the ruling NDA will have two more members on its side.

Besides the TDP, the BJP’s allies in the Upper House include the JD(U), NCP, JD(S), RPI(A), Shiv Sena, RLD, RLM, NPP, PMK, Tamil Maanila Congress and UPPL. with agency inputs