Former MLC T. Santosh Kumar resigns from BRS

KARIMNAGAR: Upset with the party leadership for not recognising him and not appointing him to any key position, T. Santosh Kumar, a former MLC and BRS leader, announced his resignation to primary membership of the party and sent the resignation letter to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao here in Karimnagar on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media, Santosh Kumar said that he joined the BRS in 2018 after leaving the Congress with three other members in response to the Chief Minister's request. As a result, Assembly Council Chairman Gutta Sukhendar Reddy suspended the Congress's recognition in the Assembly.

As a result of joining the BRS, he took part in various developmental projects as well as helping candidates win local elections. However, the party leadership, which had promised him a major position, isolated him and ceased inviting him to party functions and during the visits of CM KCR and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao.

Following discussions with his supporters and well-wishers, he decided to leave the BRS and rejoin the Congress if the party invites and allots him a party ticket to contest from the Karimnagar Assembly segment, observing that the current situation necessitates a change in leadership in the Karimnagar constituency.

Santosh Kumar was an active activist in the Congress and served as the DCC president for the combined Karimnagar district. Santosh Kumar has a strong hold on votes from the BC and minority communities. His departure from the BRS could cost the party dearly in the upcoming assembly elections.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Kataram Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS), Challa Narayana Reddy, who is upset about the party's decision to give the BRS ticket for the Manthani Assembly segment to Putta Madhukar, issued a statement saying that he would decide whether to run for office after consulting with his supporters.

He claimed that despite his attempts to develop the party from the village level and take the party to every doorstep, the party leadership did not recognise his efforts and instead allocated a party ticket to Putta Madhukar.