The decision of a MP, MlA and some other leaders to join Telangana Rashtra Samiti has left the Congress in Telangana in a deep crisis sending the top party leadership in to a huddle on how to stem the tide of defections to the ruling party.
The decision of Congress MP from Nalgonda, Gutta Sukhinder Reddy to join TRS has especially come as a big shock as he was in the forefront in attacking the TRS and leveling charges of corruption in Government schemes especially in Mission Bhagirath for drinking water supply. He had even written letters to the Central Government agencies on the issue evoking the ire of the TRS. But now in a volte face he said he was quite impressed by the function of the KCR Government in the State.
Apart from Gutta Sukhinder Reddy, Congress MlA from Miryalaguda in Nalgonda disrtrict N Bhaskar Rao and the lone CPI MlA representing Devarkonda Ravindra Kumar have also decided to join the TRS.
Other senior Congress leaders joining the same queue were two sons of veteran Dalit Congress leader G Venkata Swamy, G Vinod and G Vivekanand. Both these leaders were in the news before the elections for their plans to join the TRS but Congress persuaded them to stay back and both of them lost the elections.
Sukhinder Reddy said that he was forced to take the step by the internal bickering in Telangana Congress.
In the backdrop of these developments Telangana State Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday met the party general secretary in charge of the State affairs Digvijay Singh. On Wednesday the situation will be discussed in details in the party coordination committee meeting, he said.
Sukhinder Reddy’s move has evoked a sharp reaction from the other leaders of Congress. Party’s senior leader Mallu Ravi demanded an explanation from Sukhinder Reddy and charged Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao with luring the leaders of other parties by offering them money.
“Sukhinder Reddy was elected twice as MP from Nalgonda by taking a oath that he will serve the people of the district. Now I would like to know what reply he will give to the people”, asked Mallu Ravi.
Another Congress leader K Venkat Reddy challenged both Gutta Sukhinder Reddy and N Bhaskar Rao to resign from their seats and face fresh elections. “If the party orders me I am ready to face Gutta in elections from Nalgonda lok Sabha seats”, he said.
Interestingly K Venkat Reddy had recently met the TRS leaders amid speculations that he was also planning to join the TRS.