Telugu Desam MLA ‘defects’ to Telangana Rashtra Samithi

Hyderabad: Senior Telugu Desam legislator from Ibrahimpa-tnam Manchireddy Kishen Reddy is all set to join the TRS. Ministers T. Harish Rao and K.T. Rama Rao were reportedly persuading a few Desam MLAs to shift loyalties and their efforts fructified in the case of Mr Kishen Reddy.

The defection comes just a day before the ruling party’s plenary in the city. Their efforts to lure two more TD MLAs — Kukutpally MLA Maadaram Krishna Rao and Rajendranagar MLA Prakash Goud — do not seem to have succeeded so far. Mr Reddy’s defection on the eve of TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s programme at Mahbubnagar on April 23 shocked party circles.  

Mr Kishen Reddy on Tuesday held a series of meetings with his followers and discussed his decision. “I will make an announcement tomorrow. I haven’t decided anything yet,” Mr Reddy told this newspaper from the meeting on Tuesday evening.

However, Telangana TD sources confirmed that Mr Kishen Reddy was leaving the party and joining the TRS.

Mr Kishen Reddy is the fourth MLA to defect to the TRS after Talasani Srinivasa Yadav, Teegala Krishna Reddy and Challa Dharma Reddy.

There was much activity in Ibrahimpatnam constituency in Ranga Reddy district, that is part of the HMDA over the last two days. Pink coloured posters appeared featuring Mr Kishen Reddy with the CM.

It is learnt that development works worth over Rs 350 crore have been assured to the MLA by the TRS leaders. These include revival of Ibrahimpatnam Pedda Cheruvu, a four-lane road to Nagarjunasagar and irrigation water from the Palamuru lift scheme for the rural constituency.

When contacted, Telangana TD Legislature Party leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao said, "We too are hearing reports that our MLAs are defecting to the TRS. I believe the MLAs will not ditch Mr Naidu, we are confident that they will not leave the party.”