HYDERABAD: Suspended Telugu Desam MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy, along with TDP rebel MLAs K Hareeswar Reddy and Jogu Ramanna and former MLA Boda Janardhan, called on TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao at the latter's residence here on Saturday.
Rao has never discussed the Telangana issue with TDP leaders in the past, even when T Devender Goud quit the TDP and joined the regional movement by floating a new political party.
When Nagam organised a public meeting at Nagarkurnool in Mahaboobnagar district recently, Rao opposed Nagam's act and he persuaded TJAC leaders, including chairman Kodandaram, against participating in the meeting.
Against that backdrop, the TDP leaders' meeting with the TRS chief on Saturday assumed political significance. The leaders discussed ways of strengthening the Telangana movement and sought TRS' support for their protest programme which is scheduled at Indira Park here on July 3 and 4.
The meeting gave broad hints that the TRS was committed to continuing its political attack on the TDP to isolate it in the Telangana region. After making efforts for one year, the TRS attracted 7 lakh TDP cadres in the region into its fold.
Last year, TDP MLA Ch Ramesh had quit the party and was elected on TRS ticket in the by-election. Recently, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy quit the main opposition party and the Assembly. Now the three MLAs' meeting with the TRS chief has given indications that they might follow in the footsteps of Pocharam Srinivas Reddy.
The TRS chief told reporters after the meeting that the TDP leaders sought support for their protest programmes. "We will take a decision after due consultation with TJAC," Rao said.
Janardhan Reddy explained that his meeting with the TRS chief was part of a series of meetings being held with leaders of all political parties which were participating in Telangana movement. They had remained firmly in the TDP for 30 long years, he said and added that they did not take any decision on joining the TRS.