Hyderabad: Former BRS leader Tummala Nageswara Rao will most likely join the Congress on September 17. The joining of the former minister has been on the cards for some time now and is expected to boost the prospects of the Congress especially in Khammam district.
TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy, CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka, AICC in-charge Manikrao Thakre, TPCC campaign committee vice chairman Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy met the leader to formally invite him into the party.
Nageswara Rao, a powerful leader in the erstwhile Khammam district, was a minister in undivided AP. He was also a minister in the first term of the BRS government. He has been a minister for 11 years and MLA for 22 years.
The BRS denied Nageswara Rao a ticket from Paleru, as the party fielded most incumbent MLAs. Nageswara Rao’s defection will impact political equations in the Assembly constituencies of Khammam, Sathupalli, Kothagudem, and Aswaraopeta, which have a high concentration of the Kamma population.
Reports had earlier indicated that he was seeking a ticket from any constituency and from any party to save his career. The Congress has reportedly agreed to field him from Paleru.
In another development, former BRS MLA Nallala Odelu and joined the Congress in the presence of TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy. Those who joined the party on the occasion included Mancherial ZP chairperson Bhagya Lakshmi and a few councillors.
