Kiran Kumar Reddy, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Reddy resigned from Congress in March 2023 over differences with the party leadership. His decision to join the BJP comes ahead of the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh next year, potentially tipping the scales in favor of the BJP, which is trying to make inroads in the state. The BJP could also project Reddy as a potential chief ministerial candidate. Reddy praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he was welcomed into the BJP by senior leaders in New Delhi.
