HYDERABAD: Telangana Telugu Desam working president A Revanth Reddy, who continues to create a sort of confusion among the party leaders about his political moves, is all set to announce his decision to join the Congress after October 26.
According to his close aides, Revanth will publicly make a statement about his crossover from TDP to the Congress after informing TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu of his decision ahead of the Telangana State Assembly session which will begin on October 27.
“As Naidu is abroad now, Revanth is awaiting his return. Once Naidu comes back, Revanth wants to voice his reservations about continuing in the TDP. He wants a categorical assurance from Naidu that the TDP will not align with the TRS in the next general election. Revanth will also seek Naidu’s approval for his plans to make the TDP join hands with the Congress against the TRS government. As both the demands are likely to be rejected by Naidu, Revanth is fine-tuning his plan to quit the TDP and join the Congress,” a close associate of his told Express.
Source disclosed that Revanth may meet Naidu on October 27 or 28. Till then he will technically be in the TDP and will attend the TTDP Legislature Party meeting on October 26.
Reddy, who represents Kodangal in the Assembly, held a meeting with his followers at Kodangal on Sunday. “I am focusing my attention on issues that are to be taken up in the ensuing Assembly session. We will hold TDLP meeting on October 26. Whatever I have to say about my future political move, I will convey it to my party boss. After expressing my views to him, I will announce my future course of action,” he told them.
TTDP leaders to seek Revanth’s expulsion
Though Revanth Reddy does not want to announce his decision to join the Congress till he informs party president and Aandhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu of it, his colleagues in the party’s TS unit are learnt to have passed a resolution urging Naidu to expel Revanth from the party, “as he was planning to join the Congress Party.” On a day when Revanth was not in Hyderabad, his party seniors Mothkupalli Narsimhulu, A Uma Madhava Reddy, E Peddi Reddy and others led by party state unit president L Ramana held an emergence meeting at NTR Bhavan here to discuss Revanth issue.
Soon after the meeting, Narsimhulu told Express that they had decided to recommend to Naidu to act against Revanth “who is openly sending friendly overtures to the Congress leadership.” “Revanth’s very suggestion of joining hands with the Congress in the state is not correct. TDP is an ally of the BJP at national level. Hence, the idea of joining hands with the Congress in the state is ridiculous,” Narsimhulu said.
Expressing severe displeasure at the way Revanth Reddy was not providing any clarity on his future moves, Ramana said, “There is no clarity in Revanth’s recent statement on his possible crossover to the Congress. Leaders like Revanth, who are suspected to be leaning towards the Congress, should categorically state that they would continue in the TDP. We have already prepared a list of such leaders. The list will be handed over to our party supremo Chandrababu Naidu for taking further action.”
Revanth to brief Naidu on pro-TRS leaders
At the meeting with his followers, Revanth is believed to have reiterated his allegation that some TDP leaders belonging to AP had been given contracts of irrigation projects and other developmental works in Telangana. Those leaders were, therefore, soft on the TRS and exerting pressure on Naidu to have an alliance with the TRS in Telangana in the ensuing general polls, he claimed. “I will disclose the details when I meet Chandrababu Naidu,” he said.