NALGONDA/HYDERABAD: Congress in the state will be in for another rude shock with one more MLA planning to desert the party and join the ruling TRS.
Nalgonda MLA and senior leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy is likely to join the pink party next month and is holding parleys with the TRS leadership over the issue, sources close to the MLA said.
Venkat Reddy, who is in the US for the past 40 days, is said to be in constant touch with the TRS leadership and is discussing about shifting his loyalties.
Venkat Reddy will, however, be attending the Telangana Formation Day celebrations to be held at the Parade Grounds in Hyderabad on June 2. Sources said Venkat Reddy got an appointment with chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on June 5 where the negotiations are likely to take place.
‘’Venkat Reddy joining TRS is going to happen anytime now. It is a matter of time,’’ a party leader said adding that the MLA would join the TRS before June 10 along with a good number of his supporters. Venkat Reddy is aspiring for a cabinet berth in the TRS government, sources said.
Meanwhile, TRS leaders said Venkat Reddy joining the party will not have any objection from energy minister G Jagadish Reddy, who represents Suryapet, following the creation of new districts.
Sources also pointed out that Venkat Reddy’s brother Rajagopal Reddy might not follow his brother’s footsteps.
The recent developments too support the rumours of Venkat Reddy joining TRS. On May 30, irrigation minister T Harish Rao during his visit to the district asked the officials to intensify land acquisition for Udaya Samudram, Srisailam Left Bank Canal besides Dindi projects, all dream projects of Venkat Reddy.
Venkat Reddy’s bitter rival and Rajya Sabha MP from Nalgonda district, Palvai Goverdhan Reddy, made light of the MLA’s exit from the party and said the party has nothing to lose with Venkat Reddy shifting loyalties to TRS.
TD MP Malla Reddy to join pink party today
The lone TDP MP from Telangana Ch Malla Reddy, is all likely to join the ruling TRS. Malla Reddy would join the pink party in the presence of chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday morning, sources said. The TRS, which kept a brief halt to its ‘Operation Akarsh,’ once again hit the accelerator and is all set to lure away Malla Reddy. Malla Reddy has been dilly-dallying over joining TRS for the past few months. The party received yet another jolt with Malla Reddy finally deciding to join the TRS. With his exit, the TDP will now be left with only three MLAs in TS.