Speculation of Telangana Telugu Desam Party working president A Revanth Reddy joining Congress has intensified with his open attack on senior Ministers of TDP Government in Andhra Pradesh.
In a clear indication of young leader from Telangana had fallen out with the TDP president and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Revanth Reddy has alleged secret dealing between Andhra Ministers and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
In an informal chat with media on Wednesday Revanth Reddy said, "while I am busy fighting against KCR some AP Ministers are enjoying friendship with him. If they behave like this with what face I can go to the people of Telangana", he asked.
He alleged that Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu was given Rs 2,000 crore contract and the family of another Minister Paritala Sunitha was given beer manufacturing company near Hyderabad.
While he denied the speculations that he was joining Congress party Revanth Reddy was staying in the national capital for the last two days and met several senior Congress leaders to discuss the plans.
Now with this open attack on TDP leaders and AP ministers Revanth Reddy seems to be closing his options of staying with the TDP.
Problems between Revanth Reddy and TDP leadership started growing last month when Telangana Chief Minister KCR was given a rousing reception at the wedding of the son of Minister Paritala Sunita at Penukonda in Anantapur district.
"The happenings at the Paritala wedding had hurt me", Revanth Reddy said wondering what transpired in the private meeting between KCR and the TDP leader P Keshav at the wedding.
All the AP ministers at the wedding had over reacted in welcoming KCR, he quipped.
It was soon after KCR attending the wedding that the speculation of a possible tie up between the TRS and TDP started doing the rounds.
KCR defended his presence at the wedding saying late Paritala Ravindra was his close friend from the days when he (KCR) was general secretary of TDP Incharge of Anantapur district and attended the wedding as the family had personally invited him.
Revanth, who is known as bitter critic of KCR was piqued by the treatment given to KCR at the wedding and was unhappy over the speculation of a possible tie up between the two parties.
In the backdrop of these developments the state Congress leaders started wooing him.
According to the sources in Telangana Congress committee discussions over Revanth's admission had entered the final phase and he was will formally join the party at a public meeting in Warangal on November 9 in the presence of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
Revanth Reddy was likely to be accompanied by some more Telangana Telugu Desam leaders including the former minister Mrs Uma Madhava Reddy and her son.
Wooing Revanth was being seen as an attempt by the Congress to woo the powerful and influential Reddy community which was feeling marginalised and ignored under the TRS rule.
Reddy's a land lord community dominated the state politics and held the sway over Congress till the emergence of Telugu Desam party NTR in 1982. NTR, Kamma by caste not only promoted his own rich caste in politics but also empowered the Backward classes which eventually led to further marginalisation of Reddy in many districts.
Now that Velmas, the caste of Chief Minister KCR were ruling the roost in TRS rule, Reddy's were trying to unite and regroup under the banner of Congress party.
Telangana Congress committee is presently headed by N Uttam Kumar Reddy and its leader in the state assembly is K Jana Reddy and former union minister S Jaipal Reddy is among its senior most leaders.
While some of the Reddy leaders were not happy over Revanth Reddy getting a star treatment, Jaipal Reddy and another former minister Marri Shashidhar Reddy have welcomed the idea of his joining Congress.
Another former legislator of Congress T Jayaprakash Reddy charging the Chief Minister KCR with anti Reddy bias has also appealed to all the Reddy leaders to unite under the banner of Congress to fight against anti Reddy TRS.
Those supporting Revanth Reddy say he will bring more energy and dynamism to Congress as he was unrelenting and aggressive in his fight against KCR even while most of the top leaders defected to ruling TRS.
Meanwhile Telangana deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari dismissed the Revanth Reddy joining Congress saying, "he was a man without self respect". Kadiam Srihari was also a senior TDP leader before he joined TRS.
Telugu Desam party general secretary N lokesh refused to comment on Revanth Reddy. "How can I say something merely on the basis of media speculation", he asked in Vijaywada.