Andhra Pradesh has had a turbulent last few years in politics with the movement for a separate Telangana gathering steam and the death of former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash. Due to differences with the ruling INC, Reddy's son, Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, then broke away to form the YSRCP and was joined by several MLAs. Eighteen MLAs were later disqualified, while Nellore's MP resigned. The Vidhan Sabha seat for Tirupati had also been vacant since 2010 when Chiranjeevi, whose PRP merged with the INC, was elected to the Rajya Sabha.