Telangana Congress plans initiation of suspended BRS MLAs during Amit Shah's visit

Hyderabad: With the certainty over former minister Jupally Krishna Rao and former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy joining Congress, the Congress aims to dampen Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the state BJP’s plans by welcoming the expelled BRS leaders on the day the BJP’s top leader is scheduled to visit Khammam.

Speaking to NewsMeter, former MP and PCC Senior Vice President, Mallu Ravi said that since both leaders have decided to join Congress, they will be formally announcing the decision within the next four days. “They will be making their intentions clear and loud within the next four days by holding a press conference in Khammam and Nagarkurnool respectively. While Ponguleti will announce in Khammam, Jupally will make it clear at Nagarkurnool,” he said.

This development may eclipse Amit Shah’s visit to Khammam, the stronghold of the grand old party, on June 15. The Home Minister is scheduled to speak at a public meeting, which aims to strengthen the party in the erstwhile Khammam.

Decks are being cleared by Congress for press conferences in both places by counterbalancing the opposition within. On Saturday, Jupally also had a meeting with C Jagadeeshwar Rao, a former TDP leader, and Kollapur constituency in-charge. Even though the party’s MLA ticket aspirant never won earlier elections, this time he had hoped of winning the Kollapur seat. Local party sources believe that despite Jupally’s attempts to reach out to Jagadeeshwar, due to increased insecurities it may not go down well in case a ticket is bestowed to Jupally. “It is most likely that the leader may turn rebel in case Jupally is in the poll fray from the constituency,” said a senior leader who is closely watching developments in Kollapur.

Similarly, former Union Minister Renuka Chowdhury has remained apprehensive ever since Ponguleti came into contact with Congress leaders following his ouster from the BRS. She had earlier also raised the issue with party seniors, as she aims to contest Khammam’s MP seat.

Meanwhile on Saturday evening, BRS MLC K Damodar Reddy also called on Mallu Ravi. The meeting which lasted for two hours is being perceived as his return to the Congress fold and his desire for the Nagarkurnool Assembly seat. However, Mallu Ravi, a former MP from Nagarkurnool, is cautious in dealing with the situation even though optimistic about Damodar joining the party. Former minister Nagam Janardhan Reddy who is active in Nagarkurnool’s politics and aspiring for contesting from the Assembly constituency there, may not welcome the development.