Former Srikakulam MLA Gund Lakshmi Devi has announced her decision to resign from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), bringing a major political development to the forefront in Andhra Pradesh. After nearly four decades of association with the party, she said that the alleged humiliation of her family, obstacles to installing a statue of her late husband and continued neglect by party leaders had prompted her decision.
Her announcement has also triggered speculation that the Gund family may join the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP). However, there has been no official confirmation regarding their possible entry into the opposition party.
Gund Lakshmi Devi Explains Why She Is Leaving TDP
Expressing her disappointment over leaving a party she had trusted for nearly 40 years, Gund Lakshmi Devi alleged that her husband, former minister Gund Appala Suryanarayana, was not given the respect he deserved despite serving as an MLA four times and a minister twice.
She claimed that her husband had experienced severe mental distress over the past decade. According to her, he had met TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu several times to explain his concerns, but the issues remained unresolved.
Lakshmi Devi further alleged that the family and their supporters continued to face humiliation even after Appala Suryanarayana’s death.
Dispute Over Gund Appala Suryanarayana’s Statue
One of the major reasons behind Lakshmi Devi’s decision is the alleged opposition to installing a statue of her late husband in Srikakulam.
She claimed that obstacles were created to prevent the installation and that the pedestal constructed for the statue was damaged. She also said that she had brought the matter to the attention of TDP leader and minister Nara Lokesh, but no satisfactory outcome followed.
Lakshmi Devi said that although Tanuku MLA Arimilli Radhakrishna had reportedly called her and urged her not to leave the party, she could not continue in a situation where the interests of her supporters were allegedly being ignored.
She criticised the party leadership, claiming that even people who had worked for the party for years were not receiving proper recognition.
Gund Family’s Four-Decade Association with TDP
The Gund family has a long political history in Srikakulam. Gund Appala Suryanarayana first contested the Srikakulam Assembly constituency as a TDP candidate in 1985 and won the election. He subsequently won in 1989, 1994 and 1999, establishing himself as a prominent political figure in the constituency.
He also served as a minister in the government led by N. T. Rama Rao.
Although he lost the 2004 and 2009 Assembly elections to Dharmana Prasada Rao, Appala Suryanarayana continued his association with the TDP.
In the 2014 Assembly elections, the party fielded his wife, Gund Lakshmi Devi, instead of him. She defeated Dharmana Prasada Rao by a margin of approximately 25,000 votes, marking a significant victory for the family.
Ticket Denial and Growing Discontent Within TDP
Lakshmi Devi lost the 2019 Assembly election by a narrow margin but continued participating in party activities and working for the TDP.
However, allegations emerged that some TDP leaders from the district had opposed her candidature in the 2024 Assembly elections. The party eventually nominated Gondu Shankar from the Srikakulam constituency.
Political circles subsequently discussed the possibility that the denial of a ticket to Lakshmi Devi had caused considerable disappointment within the Gund family.
Following Appala Suryanarayana’s death, the family reportedly felt that its political importance within the party had declined. Lakshmi Devi has alleged that despite assurances from Chandrababu Naidu that the family would be supported, it did not receive the recognition it expected.
These developments appear to have contributed to the growing dissatisfaction that ultimately led to her resignation announcement.
Srikakulam Mayor Post Also a Point of Discussion
Ahead of the Srikakulam Municipal Corporation elections, speculation circulated that the Gund family might be considered for the mayor’s post. However, the family reportedly did not receive a clear assurance or formal communication from the party regarding the possibility.
The lack of clarity over political opportunities, along with the alleged dispute over her husband’s statue and the treatment of family supporters, appears to have deepened Lakshmi Devi’s dissatisfaction.
The mayoral-post speculation remains unconfirmed, and there has been no official announcement that the position was promised to the family.
Will Gund Lakshmi Devi Join YSRCP?
Gund Lakshmi Devi’s decision to resign from the TDP could influence political calculations in Srikakulam, particularly if she and her family eventually join the YSRCP.
Her family has maintained a significant political presence in the constituency for decades. A possible shift to the YSRCP could affect local political alignments and the strategies of both major parties.
For now, the immediate development is her announcement to leave the TDP. Whether the Gund family will formally join the YSRCP remains uncertain.
The episode highlights growing discontent within the local TDP leadership structure and could become an important factor in Srikakulam’s political landscape ahead of the municipal elections.
