Top Christian body dumps BRS for Congress

Hyderabad: The Telangana United Christians and Pastors Association (TUCPA) has unanimously decided to align with the ‘secular’ Congress party.

TUCPA members, alongside their women and youth committees, officially joined the Congress party in the presence of AICC state in-charge Manik Rao Thakre.

The decision to part ways with the BRS, which the TUCPA supported all along, stems from the perceived failure of the party to meet the minimum requirements of the Christian community, they said. Utter neglect and failure to get appointments of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and Minister K.T. Rama Rao, despite several attempts fuelled the decision to seek a new political alliance.

Expressing their endorsement for the Congress party, TUCPA cited the encouragement they had received from Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Thakre, Revanth Reddy and Bishop Bipen Bower.

"The party's commitment to the Christian community is evident through various schemes that have been announced like monthly remuneration of Rs 10,000 for pastors, Shadi Mubarak assistance of Rs 1,50,000, the support for students ranging from Rs 10, 000 to Rs one lakh, burial grounds in all mandals, and the promise of political opportunities," a member of the Association told Deccan Chronicle.

TUCPA said it aims to secure 20 to 28 seats in the upcoming elections.

The association's state-wide 30-member committee was represented by Bishop K. Timothy (president), Rev P Menno Joel (vice-president), Rev. M. Purshotham (treasurer) and Rev. Jayakumar Zaccheus. Also joining the Congress party on the occasion included Goneh Solomon Raj (general secretary), Benoni Richard (assistant secretary), Pramod Wilson, D. Jayapaul, and numerous women and youth representatives.