HYDERABAD: Even though pressure is mounting on him to face the bypoll, Kodangal MLA A Revanth Reddy is unlikely to submit his resignation from the membership of the House directly to the Telangana Assembly speaker any time now. This means the possibility of a byelection seems remote.
According to sources, Revanth, whose resignation letter is still pending with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister president N Chandrababu Naidu’s office, wants to continue his act of “playing it safe” in order to avoid risks if a bypoll is held.
“Revanth was elected from Kodangal on TDP ticket given by Naidu. Hence, submission of his resignation to Naidu. The onus of forwarding the letter to TS Assembly speaker’s office is on Naidu,” a close aide of his said.He wants to continue this “wait-and-watch” approach to his resignation for as many days as possible, it is learnt.
Sources said that Reddy, who has not yet set foot in the headquarters of state Congress, will start participating in Congress programmes from Dec 9, the birthday of Sonia Gandhi.
“Initially, he had thought of beginning his activities after taking part in the public meeting to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi in Warangal. As the meeting is likely to be postponed, Revanth has now decided to start working from Dec 9 ,” sources said.
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On other hand, with the firebrand leader maintaining silence on his resignation from the legislature, TRS and BJP leaders have gradually stepped up pressure on him to face the “bypoll challenge”. Interestingly, both the parties are now deploying leaders, who had worked with Revanth in TDP, to fire salvos at him. Narayanpet MLA S Rajender Reddy, who had quit TDP and joined TRS last year, wanted to know why Revanth had gone back on his decision to quit Assembly. Like Rajender, BJP leader Sankineni Venkateswara Rao, who was earlier in TDP, also made a mockery of Revanth’s resignation. “By joining Congress Revanth made a mistake in his political career,” the BJP leader commented.