The suspended leaders of the BRS, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao, are more likely to join the Congress than the BJP. Ponguleti and Jupally might have concluded that the Congress is the party that can defeat the BRS in the next elections.
Both Ponguleti and Jupally, who were in a dilemma all these days on deciding which party to join, are now going to give a ‘hand’ to the BJP to catch the Congress ‘hand.’
The Congress on Thursday gave leaks on their joining although they did not announce their decision formally.
A few days ago, BJP leaders gave leaks that they will try to induct Ponguleti and Jupally in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 23 at the Chevella public meeting.
Ponguleti is giving first priority to the Congress as the BJP does not have a strong base in Khammam district. Jupally is an old horse of the Congress and is likely to look towards the Congress.
Both Ponguleti and Jupally say that they will topple the BRS government in the next elections. Ponguleti has been stating that he will not allow a single BRS candidate to win in the erstwhile Khammam district. Now it is clear that both Ponguleti and Jupally have concluded that the Congress is better positioned than the BJP to defeat the BRS in the next Assembly elections.
It is learnt that Pongulti Srinivas Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao have already given their word to the Congress leadership regarding this.
As per leaks given by the Congress, Ponguleti and Jupally have decided to join the Congress in the presence of AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on May 4 or 5 at the meeting being held at Saroor Nagar Grounds. It is also learnt that they may meet the Congress high command on April 30 in New Delhi.
It is learnt that TPCC President Revanth Reddy went to former Union minister Renuka Choudhary’s residence on Thursday only after getting the consent of Ponguleti and Jupally on joining the Congress.
It may be recalled that Renuka Choudhary is opposing Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy’s induction into the Congress. Another senior leader expressed anger over the leadership giving priority to those who parachute into the Congress from other parties.
City Congress Committee President Mohammed Javeed while speaking to ‘The Pioneer’ said the party will not hand over all Assembly and Lok Sabha seats to Ponguleti.
“We have no objection if Ponguleti joins the Congress without any conditions as the Congress won nine seats in 2014 and eight seats (6 Congress+2 TDP (in alliance)) in 2018. Congress rebel Ramulu Naik also won. There was no Ponguleti in the Congress in 2014 and 2018, but the Congress won Khammam seats. The Congress can win all erstwhile Khammam Assembly seats in 2023 without Ponguleti. But Ponguleti is trying to give an impression that he will ensure victory in all seats by joining the Congress although it can win without him. It is not fair on the part of Ponguleti to weigh the Congress and the BJP,” he said.
Revanth, former Union minister Balaram Naik and former MP Suresh Shetakr urged Renuka Choudhary to attract Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to the Congress. In fact, there is no trouble from Mahbubnagar as Jupally is an old horse of the Congress.
