The Telangana Rashtra Samithi’s attempt to create troubles within the Congress party in the state by planting a story in the media indicating that one of its MLAs is joining the ruling party has backfired.
The MLA was A Sampath Kumar from Alampur, who attended the foundation laying ceremony of Tummilla irrigation project in his constituency on Monday.
The MLA thanked irrigation minister T Harish Rao with folded hands for starting the project at least now, after prolonged delay.
However, the TRS planted a story in the media on Tuesday stating that the Congress MLA had showered praises on Harish Rao and saluted him for his immense interest in Telangana irrigation.
“Mantriki Congress MLA Satha Koti Vandanaalu..” was the caption given along with the picture in major Telugu newspapers today.
This came as a major embarrassment to the Congress leadership in the state. Obviously, it gave an opportunity to neighbouring Gadwal MLA D K Aruna, who was not in good terms with the MLA. Her camp spread the message that Sampath is going to join the TRS very soon.
An embarrassed Sampath Kumar had to hurriedly address a press conference in the afternoon and clarify that he was very much in the Congress party and the TRS leaders were misleading the people by over-projecting the picture.
“The minister came to my constituency for the project works and it was my duty to thank him. The TRS leaders who only highlighted the picture me saluting the minister did not utter a word about what I represented to him about the problems in Alampur,” he said.
He accused Harish Rao of distorting the facts.
“Both Harish and KTR know that I am not going to join their party. I am happy in the Congress party. My political opponents have been spreading rumours and adopting various tactics to weaken him in politics,” the MLA said.
Sampath also clarified that he had no differences with Aruna. He said he had got elected as MLA only due to Aruna.
