ADILABAD: Absence of senior BRS leader K. Srihari Rao from Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s recent public meeting has added grist to the mill that he is heading to Congress.
The senior leader, considered a close associate of IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, is rankled that minister A. Indrakaran Reddy has gained an upper hand in BRS’ politics in the region. A native of Nirmal, Srihari had played an active role in the agitation for separate Telangana. He is disappointed that he has not received any recognition through a nominated post in the government during the last nine years.
The senior leader has even shot off an open letter accusing Indrakaran Reddy of being autocratic, who has ignored senior leaders. Rubbing in salt, Srihari has referred to Indrakaran being elected on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket and subsequently joining BRS to become a minister, while many senior leaders who fought for separate-hood have remained without recognition.
It is believed the senior leader has been contacted by TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy, who is looking for a strong leader in the area following Aleti Maheshwar Reddy’s decision to join the BJP.
Incidentally, before joining the BJP, Maheshwar Reddy had alleged that without keeping him informed, senior Congress party leader G. Chinna Reddy had contacted Srihari Rao, asking him to join the Congress.
Another senior BRS leader Satyanarayana Goud, whose relations with minister Indrakaran too are constrained, attended KCR’s meeting. Satyanarayana is also an aspirant for the ruling party ticket from Nirmal.
Senior party leaders are hopeful of bagging the BRS ticket if the high command denies the ticket to Indrakaran Reddy considering the latter’s advanced age.
