Telangana Congress MLA Rajagopal Reddy to move to BJP; party left with just 5 MLAs

In yet ar setback to Congress party in Telangana, Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, party MLA from Nalgonda district anunced on Friday that he would quit Congress and join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon.

After partaking in darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, Rajagopal Reddy who represents Munugode assembly constituency said that BJP was only alternative to ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, as Congress party had failed to put up a strong fight. He said he had predicted long ago about growth of BJP as a strong force in Telangana.

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“I stand by my statement and recent results of by-elections to Dubbak assembly seat and elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) proved it,” he added.

He also claimed that keeping in mind interest of people of his constituency he might join BJP shortly as party would get furr strengned in Telangana in coming days. 

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Sooner or later if Reddy joins BJP, Congress will be left with just 5 MLAs in 119- member state assembly. party won 19 seats in December 2018 assembly elections, post that 12 MLAs already moved to TRS. In 2019 from remaining 7 seats, Congress lost one more in by-elections.

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Rajagopal Reddy's elder bror Komatireddy Venkat Reddy is also an MP from Bhongir parliamentary constituency. After resignation of N Uttam Kumar Reddy as PCC chief at present he is a front-runner for post. “My elder bror might remain in Congress and become PCC chief. But I am going to join BJP,' he said. 

Telangana Congress PCC vice-president reaction

“It is t correct on his part to desert party when it is in crisis. As a responsible MLA of party, it is his duty to stand by party and strengn it,”, Telangana Congress PCC vice-president Mallu Ravi condemned Rajagopal Reddy’s statement. Ravi claimed that Congress would bounce back into power both at Centre and state.

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