TPCC opens Congress doors for Jupally; Revanth calls for realignment of anti-KCR forces in Telangana

HYDERABAD: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Revanth Reddy on Wednesday said that the Congress would strive for realignment of anti-KCR forces and revive ‘Indiramma Rajyam’ in Telangana.

The TPCC president along with Bhongir MP Komatreddy Venkat Reddy, and several other senior leaders of the party, went to former BRS leader Jupally Krishna Rao’s residence and held a luncheon meeting to formally invite him to join the grand old party.

Speaking to the media after their meeting, Revanth Reddy confirmed that they had formally invited Jupally Krishna Rao into their party’s fold. He said that Jupally and other senior leaders like Gurnath Reddy and Damodar Reddy joined the Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS) earlier for the sake of the development of Mahabubnagar district. Even after nine years, the BRS Government led by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao failed on all fronts in developing Telangana and Mahabubnagar district in particular. “That's why they all rebelled against KCR. Development of Mahabubnagar can be achieved only with the Congress in power. We invited Jupally Krishna Rao to join our party,” he said.

The TPCC president said that the Congress would work hard in Telangana to win all the 17 Lok Sabha seats and help the cause to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister after the elections. He also recalled how the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had worked hard in the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh to bring the party into power at the Centre twice by winning 30 MP seats. Induction of senior leaders and those against KCR will strengthen the party from the grassroots levels, Revanth Reddy said.

Jupally Krishna Rao said that he was yet to take a call on joining the Congress party. He said that corruption had become rampant in Telangana and there was an urgent need to bring reforms in Dharani portal. The former BRS leader also found fault with KCR for the inordinate delay in the completion of the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme.

Later, Revanth Reddy, along with Komatreddy Venkat Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao, went to former MP Pongulati Srinivas Reddy’s residence to formally invite him to join the Congress.

The senior Telangana Congress leaders who took part in the luncheon meeting include Rajesh Reddy, Gurunadh Reddy, H Narsa Reddy, Muddappa and Jagdishwar Reddy.

Revanth, Venkat Reddy put on show of bonhomie

Earlier, TPCC chief Revanth Reddy went all the way to the residence of Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy before both, accompanied by other leaders, headed to Jupally Krishna Rao’s house. Revanth Reddy’s visit to Komatireddy’s house comes at a time the Congress party, especially the TPCC chief, was trying to put on a show of bonhomie and camaraderie among all the party leaders to rid the party of its eternally squabbling image ahead of the elections.

During the brief meeting, the duo are said to have discussed strategies to attract all the senior politicians worth their prominence to the Congress’s fold. The focus, as of now, is fully on winning over both Jupally and former MP and another suspended BRS leader Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.

After their meeting, Revanth Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy made crucial remarks on enticing senior leaders to their party. Revanth Reddy claimed that several leaders were expressing their interest to join the Congress. He made it clear that the decision in this regard would be taken only after consulting Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jana Reddy and other Telangana senior leaders of the party.

“There are no differences on the issue of inducting senior leaders into the party. Congress will work hard in the State to win at least 15 MP seats and help make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister,’’ the TPCC president said. Komatireddy Venkat Reddy maintained that there were no differences with Revanth Reddy and their objective was to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister. ‘’We both will work together, even after coming to power, we will continue with the same spirit’’, Venkat Reddy said.