Thummala, Rekha Naik may join Congress on September 17

ADILABAD / KHAMMAM: Former minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao of Khammam and BRS MLA Ajmeera Rekha Naik of Khanapur are likely to join the Congress in the presence of top Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Hyderabad on September 17.

Rekha Naik has been denied the ruling BRS party ticket from Khanapur assembly constituency. Likewise, Thummala Nageshwar Rao has also not been given the BRS ticket from Paleru constituency.

Thummala Nageshwar Rao has met TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy. Earlier, CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy had called on Nageshwar Rao at the latter’s house and invited him to join Congress.

News is also doing rounds that some old-timers of TDP are also likely to join the Congress.

Incidentally, Rekha Naik has already applied for the Congress ticket from Khanapur without even joining the party. However, she has announced that she would soon join the Congress, which she described as her mother's party.

News is that BJP leader and former MLA Yennam Srinivas Reddy of Mahaboobnagar, suspended from the saffron party a few days ago, is also likely to join the Congress.

There is also talk about BRS MLA Mynampalli Hanumantha Rao and his son also joining the Congress, provided both are given a ticket each to contest the forthcoming elections. Former minister Mandava Venkateshwar Rao of Nizamabad is also expected to join the Congress.

News is that nearly 10 leaders of other parties will be joining the Congress at the public meeting, which will be held on the second day of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meetings in Hyderabad.