The flip-flop by the three TDP MLAs from Prakasam district is now the talk of the town. The three MLAs – Gottipati Ravikumar, Dola Bala Veerajaneya Swamy and Eluru Sambasiva Rao – have changed their stance on the Rayalaseema lift irrigation scheme within 24 hours. Initially they said that the RLS would hit the interests of Prakasam district. They had even written a letter to YS Jagan on this issue. Now they are saying that they did not intend to oppose the RLS at all.

On Sunday, their letter to YS Jagan said that Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation scheme would completely affect the irrigation system in Prakasam district. They staunchly opposed the project. On Monday, they said that they did not object to the RLS but were worried about the fate of Prakasam district. They sought to know what the Jagan government was doing to protect Prakasam district’s interests.

Why did they change their stance within a matter of just 24 hours? Why are they denying what they have said in the letter? Sources say that the TDP was alarmed by the backlash from Rayalaseema districts. It felt that the MLAs’ letter could sound death-knell for the TDP in the Seema region. Hence, the party leadership immediately asked them to make amends and issue another statement.

The RLS, which diverts Krishna water, will irrigate lakhs of acres of land in the Rayalaseema region. This would be hugely beneficial to the region. Opposing this would send wrong signals, the TDP felt. Hence, the party leadership asked Gottipati Ravikumar, Dola Bala Veerajaneya Swamy and Eluru Sambasiva Rao to issue a clarification to clear the ‘misunderstanding.’ As a result, the MLAs had to change their stance and say that they were not opposed to the RLS.

The TDP was accused of speaking in three different voices on the RLS. While the Telangana unit talked of Telangana interests to oppose the RLS, the seema TDP politicos are silent about the project as they can neither oppose nor support it. The Prakasam district TDP opposed the RLS saying it would affect their district. Now, in a course correction, the party’s Prakasam MLAs have changed the tone and tenor of their criticism.