Hyderabad: Yet another Congress MLA, K. Upender Reddy, who represents the Congress from Palair in Khammam district, has crossed over to the TRS.
K. Upender Reddy, who represents the Congress from Palair in Kham-mam district, met TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Wednesday to inform him of his willingness to join the TRS. In the Assembly elections held last December, Mr Reddy defeated then roads and building minister Tummala Nageswara Rao.
Sources said the TRS leadership has assured Mr Upender Reddy of a ticket in the next Assembly elections. After meeting Mr Rama Rao, Mr Reddy stated that in the recent elections all sections of people supported Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and hence the TRS was voted to power.
He said keeping in view the development of Khammam district and his constituency Palair, he had decided to support Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and join the TRS. He said that he does know any leader like Mr Rao who has such complete understanding of Telangana state and is committed to its development. He said if necessary he will resign as the MLA and is ready to face the people’s verdict.
Mr Upender Reddy is the sixth Congress MLA to desert the party for the TRS. Former minister and Congress MLA from Maheshwaram Sabita Indra Reddy and her son announced on Tuesday that they were joining the TRS. The Congress won 19 Assembly seats in the recent elections. With the spate of desertions, the party’s strength in the Assembly is down to 13. Congress MLAs Athram Sakku (Asifabad), Rega Kantha Rao (Pinapaka), Banoth Haripriya (Yellendu) and Chirumarthi Lingaiah (Nakrekal) had set the ball rolling. In the coming days, more Congress MLAs are expected to change sides.
