Defections to Congress increase; BRS MLAs meet AP CM Naidu, stir Telangana politics

Hyderabad: After chief minister A Revanth Reddy’s government came to power, the political climate in Telangana changed drastically. As many as seven MLAs and six MLCs from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have so far joined the ruling Congress party.

In addition, BRS MLAs Arakepudi Gandhi (Serilingampally), Prakash Goud (RajendraNagar) and former MLA Bhaskar Rao called on Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu at NTR Bhavan in Hyderabad on Sunday. The BRS MLAs meeting Naidu has gained prominence in the political circles of Telangana after the latter made a statement to ‘bring back the lost glory for the TDP in Telangana’.

The TDP sources also said that BRS Kukatpally MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao, Quthbullapur MLA KP Vivekananda Goud, Jubilee Hills MLA Maganti Gopinath and former MLA Mandava Venkateshwara Rao also met Naidu during his visit to Hyderabad.

The political journey of some BRS MLAs started with TDP

However, the BRS MLAs maintained that they had only paid a courtesy call to Naidu upon his visit to Hyderabad after becoming chief minister of AP. Sources in Hyderabad’s NTR Bhavan said that the BRS MLAs had a long discussion with Chandrababu Babu on the current political developments in Telangana. It is noteworthy that all the BRS MLAs who have won in the Assembly constituencies under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) began their political career with the TDP and previously worked under the leadership of Chandrababu Babu.

The BRS MLAs Arakepudi Gandhi and Prakash Goud won the Assembly elections with the support of the Andhra settler voters and TDP sympathisers in their respective constituencies.

Meanwhile, in view of the current political developments in the State, many of the BRS MLAs are also planning to switch their loyalties to other parties. In light of the BRS situation becoming untenable, six MLAs have already switched loyalties to Congress and many others are waiting for their chance.

With the TDP-led NDA alliance forming the government in Andhra Pradesh and Naidu’s political chemistry with his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy, there is an enthusiasm among the TDP cadres that the party would bounce back in Telangana.

Tummala calls on Naidu to discuss irrigation projects, water-sharing

Apart from the BRS MLAs, minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao also met CM Naidu at his residence in Hyderabad. Upon his visit, Nageswara Rao discussed major issues in both the states including the development of National Highways, water resources and railway lines.

Tummala reportedly said that the movement of Godavari water from Pattiseema to Prakasam Barrage and from there to Pulichintala and Nagarjuna Sagar is crucial. He explained to Naidu that with the link of Pattiseema to Pulichintala, Srisailam water would end Rayalaseema’s irrigation water problems and Telangana would benefit. Tummala also suggested that it would be beneficial for both States if the works of the Satthupalli to Kovuru railway line and Penuballi to Kondapalli railway line were completed.

“Chandrababu’s experience will contribute a lot to the development of the two Telugu states without water disputes. I explained to Chandrababu about the necessity of the merger of five villages of Bhadrachalam,” Nageswara Rao told the media after meeting Naidu.