Nellore: The Anam brothers — Vivekananda Reddy and former minister Ramnarayana Reddy — have decided to quit the Congress and will join the Telugu Desam.
Mr Ramnarayan Reddy revealed his mind at a meeting with his close aides at his residence here on Thursday. He said that TD AP president Kimidi Kala Venkat Rao had extended them an invitation a few months back and was mounting pressure on them to join the party. He said Urban development minister Dr P.Narayana had invited them into the TD, and referred to a phone call he received from the minister on Thursday morning.
Deccan Chronicle had on November 15 reported the possibility of the brothers switching to the TD.
Mr Ramnarayana Reddy said he held a meeting with his well-wishers and associates to gauge their opinion and they were ready to travel with him. Stating that he had started his political career with the TD, he said that he had control over Rapur (now Venkatagiri), Nellore, Nellore Rural and Atmakur segments.
A senior TD functionary said that Chief Minister and TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu had himself taken the decision to admit the Anams into the fold as he was upset with the failure of the party leaders in addressing the needs of people living in flood affected areas in Nellore during the recent heavy rains.
Unaware of the Chief Minister’s decision, Telugu Desam leaders were under the impression that the Anam brothers were approaching the TD.
They were shocked when Mr Ramnarayana Reddy said that the TD high command had invited them into the party. The leaders are up in arms against the party leadership for not informing them about their entry beforehand.
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