Hyderabad: TRS senior leader and Rajya Sabha member D. Srinivas’ son D. Arvind will join the BJP on September 17.
Mr Arvind recently triggered a controversy by giving advertisements in the media supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, much to the embarassment of his father.
Mr Arvind’s decision to join the BJP is expected to set off tremors within the TRS, especially in Nizamabad district. He is learnt to be eyeing the Nizamabad Lok Sab-ha seat which is held by Ms K. Kavitha, daughter of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Mr Arvind will be joining the BJP in the presence of Union home minister Rajnath Singh and top party leaders who will be in the city to mark Telangana Libe-ration Day in a grand manner.
Mr Srinivas, a former PCC president and ex-minister in undivided AP, switched to the TRS in July 2015 after he lost the Assembly elections in 2009 and 2014 and a bypoll in 2010. He was also made MLC.
After he joined the TRS, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had appointed him government adviser on inter-state affairs, and nominated him to the Rajya Sabha in May 2016.
Despite this, it is said, Mr Srinivas has not been seen actively working for the TRS for a few months leading to speculation that he would quit the party soon.
Mr Srinivas has denied these reports, saying that he has confidence in Mr Rao and would will remain in TRS “forever”. His close aides in the TRS said that Mr Srinivas could not adjust to the party environs and planned to quit.
At this juncture, the decision of his younger son to join the BJP has again fuelled speculation on Mr Srinivas’ political moves.
Mr Srinivas’ elder son Sanjay, a former mayor, had visited the BJP office during the 2014 polls. He is focusing on public service, and rece-ntly organised a medical camp for the poor.
