Hyderabad: Ahead of the bus yatra being organised by senior Congress leaders to unite party members from across the state, a prominent leader from Mahbubnagar district has raised protests against the Congress’ attempts to induct Dr Nagam Janardhana Reddy, a member of the BJP National Council, into the party. Congress MLC K. Damodar Reddy from Nagarkurnool belongs to the group led by former minister D.K. Aruna. He was defeated by Mr Janardhana Reddy in the Assembly elections.
On Thursday, Mr Damodar Reddy said that there was no use of inducting Dr Janardhana Reddy into the party against the wishes of Congressmen in the district. He added that attempts were being made to weaken Ms Aruna and her group at the behest of senior Congress leader and former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy.
The leader announced that he, Ms Aruna and Nagarkurnool MP Nandi Yellaiah had met with AICC president Rahul Gandhi a few weeks ago and requested him not to accept the BJP leader to the party. He said that almost all of Dr Janardhana Reddy’s followers had abandoned him and joined the TRS a long time ago.
Mr Damodar Reddy said that Jaipal Reddy was trying to get Dr Janardhana Reddy and his son to join the Congress in order to safeguard his Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha seat. “If Nagam joins the Congress, we will not cooperate with him. And if Nagam is given the Nagarkurnool Assembly ticket, he will be defeated,” he said. He asked how Dr Janardhana Reddy, who had entered politics with an anti-Congress stance, could be inducted into the party. Mr Damodar Reddy said he had said the same thing to Dr Janardhana Reddy when he had met him a few days ago.
Ms Aruna, who is the party in-charge for Ranga Reddy district, was not informed by PCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy about the bus yatra being organised from Chevella in the district on February 26. Ms Aruna’s followers are pressurising her not to attend the event. They say that there is no point of participating if the state Congress leadership does not heed her suggestions.
