Advertisement
Home PoliticsGossip

35 Leaders Of BRS To Join Congress in T'gana?

35 Leaders Of BRS To Join Congress in T'gana?

K Chandrasekhar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana is preparing for a potential setback as 35 of its key leaders are reportedly poised to join the Congress party ahead of the state elections scheduled later this year.

The group, led by former BRS leader Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and former minister Jupally Krishna Rao, met with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi today.

Sources within the Congress party indicate that more leaders from the ruling BRS and some from the BJP are expected to join the event.

According to sources, both Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao, along with their supporters, will formally join the Congress in the first week of July.

The event will be held in Khammam, where Congress leader Bhatti Vikramarka may conclude his foot march, and will be attended by national leaders.

Both Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao were suspended from the BRS in April for engaging in anti-party activities and have since been courted by both the BJP and the Congress. Each leader has their own political motivations for choosing the Congress.

Firstly, the Congress in Telangana received a significant boost in morale and gained momentum following the party's victory in neighboring Karnataka.

Secondly, the BJP does not have a strong presence in Khammam, where the Congress, Left parties, and Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party have traditionally held sway.

In the Munugode bypoll in November last year, the BJP candidate suffered defeat due to the combined strength of the BRS and the Left parties.

Jupally Krishna Rao, a five-time MLA from Kollur and former minister from Mahbubnagar, faces political competition from his long-time rival DK Aruna, who is now emerging as a prominent figure in the state BJP. Therefore, joining the BJP is not a viable option for him.

Mr. Reddy is considered a strong figure in Khammam, where the BRS has a weaker presence. He won as a YSRCP MP in 2014 and helped the party secure three MLA seats. However, he is suspected of working against Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar in the 2018 elections and was subsequently denied an MP ticket.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is seeking a third term in the upcoming elections, which are due to take place by the end of this year.

RELATED ARTICLES

Tags: Telangana Congress BRS