Adari Anand Kumar Joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Leaving YSR Congress Party (YSRCP)
Adari Anand Kumar, the Chairman of Visakha Dairy and a well-known businessman, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday in a ceremony held in Rajamahendravaram. This move follows his resignation from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) earlier this month. Anand Kumar was accompanied by ten directors and several supporters during his induction into the BJP. The ceremony was led by BJP Andhra Pradesh President and Member of Parliament Daggubati Purandeswari, who welcomed him by draping the party scarf around his shoulders.
During the event, Purandeswari emphasized the importance of maintaining the discipline and principles of the BJP, a sentiment echoed by several senior party leaders in attendance, including National Executive Member Somu Veerraju, MLA Vishnukumar Raju, former MLC PVN Madhav, East Godavari District President Bommula Dattu, and State Vice President Relangi Sridevi.
Adari Anand Kumar explained his decision to join the BJP by citing his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s developmental initiatives. He expressed his intention to contribute to the party’s mission of advancing the country and the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Background and Political Journey
Anand Kumar’s switch to the BJP has raised questions within political circles, particularly as it comes at a time when a legislative inquiry, led by Jyothula Nehru, is investigating alleged irregularities at Visakha Dairy. His move to the BJP follows his resignation from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), a significant shift in his political affiliations.
Before joining YSRCP, Anand Kumar had been associated with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). In the lead-up to the 2019 elections, he contested the Anakapalle Lok Sabha constituency as a TDP candidate but was unsuccessful. Later, he joined YSRCP and was appointed as the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Corporation (APMSMDC) in 2023. In the 2024 elections, Anand Kumar contested from the Visakhapatnam West Assembly constituency as a YSRCP candidate but was defeated by TDP’s PGVR Naidu.
Anand Kumar’s decision to join the BJP marks a notable shift in his political trajectory, and it remains to be seen how his political journey unfolds within his new party.
