Cong gets pre-poll boost with entry of BRS rebels
Upbeat after its victory in the Karnataka elections, the Congress has stepped up its efforts to strengthen its base in Telangana by luring dissident leaders from ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).Political observers say that with the recent joining of leaders from the BRS and other parties, the Congress started emerging as the main challenger for the BRS, which is likely to face anti-incumbency after two terms in power.
image for illustrative purpose
Hyderabad: Upbeat after its victory in the Karnataka elections, the Congress has stepped up its efforts to strengthen its base in Telangana by luring dissident leaders from ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).Political observers say that with the recent joining of leaders from the BRS and other parties, the Congress started emerging as the main challenger for the BRS, which is likely to face anti-incumbency after two terms in power.
During the last few days, the Congress succeeded in attracting even those rebel BRS leaders who earlier seemed to prefer the BJP.Srinivas Reddy, who was elected to Lok Sabha from Khammam on YSR Congress Party ticket in 2014, later switched loyalties to TRS (now BRS). He alleged that BRS leadership had made many promises but failed to fulfill them.He was unhappy after KCR denied him a party ticket for both the 2018 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.He raised a banner of revolt after he was not even invited to the January 18 public meeting organised by the BRS in Khammam. It was the first meeting of the BRS after it changed its name. Another key joining in the party will be of former minister Jupally Krishna Rao. He felt sidelined in the BRS after MLA Harshvardhan Reddy, who had defeated him in Kollapur constituency in Mahabubnagar district in 2018, switched his loyalties from the Congress to the BRS after the Assembly polls. A few months ago, Krishna Rao had dared Harshvardhan Reddy for a debate on constituency development.It will be a homecoming for Krishna Rao who had resigned from the Congress to join the TRS in 2011. He was elected from Kollapur in 2014 on a TRS ticket.His joining is expected to bolster the Congress presence in the Kollapur and Wanaparti segments.
A couple of other BRS leaders from Mahabubnagar are also likely to join the Congress. KuchukullaDamodar Reddy, a member of Telangana Legislative Council, is likely to join the Congress by the end of the month.
