In another jolt to the Congress and political gain for the saffron party, Congress leader and last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the BJP on Friday. He has become the second Congress leader from South India after Anil Antony, the son of senior Congress leader AK Antony, to switch loyalty to the BJP in as many days.
Reddy, who joined the BJP here in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, accused the Congress high command of aimlessness and high-handedness by refusing to listen to others in the party. “They believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong,” he said, accusing the Congress high command of being unable to analyse repeated electoral failures of the party.
“How is a patient going to be fine if he refuses to take prescribed medicines,” he said about the Congress.
“They want authority to control but don’t want to work hard or take any responsibility... The Congress is getting damaged in all States and its high command does not interact with others or take their opinion,” said the four-time former MLA.
Citing his family’s over six-decade-long association with the Congress, Reddy said he never imagined he would leave the party.
Reddy contrasted the rise of the BJP with the decline of the Congress since 1984 and lauded the ruling party’s leaders led by Narendra Modi for their hard work and commitment towards the nation and its development.
The talk of BJP now brings to the fore ideas like nation-building in people’s mind, he said. Its leadership has clarity of thought and consistency, and taking courageous decision is the hallmark of the government, he said.
Reddy also lauded Modi’s commitment to fighting corruption.
Reddy resigned from the Congress in March 2023 over differences with the party leadership.
Joshi who welcomed Reddy in the party said the former CM had played Ranji level cricket too and as he has now ended his inning in the Congress and began one in the BJP “it is hoped that he would start by hitting sixes”.
The Congress leader’s decision to join the BJP comes ahead of the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh next year, where the ruling YSR Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are locked in a bitter contest, comes as a major boost to the BJP which is still trying to find its feet in the state.
Reddy, 62, is a major political catch for the BJP which is trying to take the space of the TDP in the state and building its organizational strength.
Hailing from Rayalaseema region, he is expected to strengthen the BJP’s presence in the area where he has considerable influence.
Reddy may also be projected as a potential chief ministerial candidate by the BJP in Andhra Pradesh.