In a dramatic turn of events, Padmini Reddy, wife of senior Congress leader Damodar Raja Narasimha, returned to the Congress within hours of joining the BJP.
As the news spread that State Congress committee manifesto chairman’s wife has joined the BJP, a large number of Congress supporters gathered outside her residence and pleaded with her not to land the party of her husband in a difficult situation.
Some senior Congress leaders also swung into action to persuade her to come back to the Congress.
Late in the night, she convened a Press conference and announced returning to the Congress. “I can see the Congress workers in such a shock. I can’t hurt their feelings,” she said. She did not expect that there will be such an emotional outpouring over her quitting Congress, Padmini added.
Earlier, Congress suffered a severe blow and big embarrassment with her joining the BJP in presence of State BJP president K Lakshman and general secretary Murlidhar Rao.
Rajanarasimha is a key Congress leader and served as a deputy Chief Minister in the past. His wife quitting the party to join the BJP was being seen as a big psychological setback for the party.
According to the sources, controversial pontiff Swami Paripoornand played an important role in her move as she is reportedly a devoted follower of the head of Sree Peetham. Paripoornand had met the BJP President Amit Shah and told him that many of his disciples and important figures were easy to join the BJP. Padmini Reddy figured in the list he had given to Shah. She joined the BJP a day after Shah’s visit to Hyderabad.
“I am an admirer of Narendra Modi. I have joined the BJP earnestly to support the welfare schemes of Modi Government,” Padmini Reddy said.