With the elections to the State legislative Council due in three weeks and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls approaching fast, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti has resumed its “Operation “Akarshan” attracting the elected leaders of other parties.
A day after a Telugu Desam Party MlA and Congress MlC joined the TRS, the city was agog with the speculations of a senior and influential Congress leader and former Minister Danam Nagendra also following suit.
G Sayanna, a TDP MlA from Secunderabad and Congress MlC from Hyderabad MS Prabhakar met Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and announced their decision to join the TRS. Coming close on the heel of emphatic victory of TRS in Warangal lok Sabha bypoll, the development was being seen as a big jolt to the Congress and the TDP in Hyderabad.
“I have taken the decision in view of the series of measures the Chief Minister has taken for the development of Hyderabad city”, Sayanna said. “Chief Minister was keen to develop Hyderabad to the status of a global city and I would like to be a part of these efforts”, he added.
Welcoming the two legislators into his party’s fold, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that it will help in faster development of the city.
With the TRS actively wooing the leaders of opposition parties, and speculations about Danam Nagendar too joining the TRS, the Congress party swung in to action. Party general secretary Digviajy Singh contacted him over phone and advised him taking against any such step.
later, the Congress leader in legislative Council Shabbir Ali met his friend Nagendar to discuss the developments. He later told newsmen that Nagendar was a very important leader of the party and has a big role to play specially in Hyderabad politics. He exuded confidence that Nagendar will not take any such step. However, the speculations persisted as Nagendar was holding consultations with his close followers.
Meanwhile, Congress MP from Nalgonda Gutta Sukhinder alleged that the TRS was luring the leaders of other parties. “TRS is actively encouraging the defections and murdering the democracy”, he alleged.