Hyderabad: After Ms D.K. Aruna defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party, other Congress leaders are also being targeted, as the BJP intensifies its efforts to win members of other parties in Telangana into its fold.
BJP leaders had discussions with former minister and Medak Lok Sabha Congress candidate Sunitha Laxmareddy, on Wednesday. They want her to contest the Medak seat as a BJP candidate. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti too is after her.
The BJP also tested the waters with K. Raghuveer Reddy, son of senior Congress leader K. Jana Reddy, who was denied a ticket in the recent Assembly elections as well as in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has offered him the Bhongir Lok Sabha ticket. Congress president Rahul Gandhi reportedly asked Mr Jana Reddy not to make any hasty decisions.
The Congress’ Sivakum-ar Reddy and Kommuri Pratap Reddy are also on the BJP’s radar. Mr Kommuri Pratap Reddy recently joined the Congress from the BJP, expecting to be given the Bhongir Lok Sabha ticket, but it went to former minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy.
Discussions have also been held with former Union minister and Congress leader Sarve Satyanarayana, who has been offered Warangal by the BJP. He has not taken a final decision on leaving the Congress.
Telangana BJP president K. Laxman said that about 20 Congress leaders are in touch with him.
The BJP is waiting for the TRS to announce its candidates so that it can zero in on those left out. Khammam TRS MP Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy may be denied a ticket, and would be a likely target for the BJP, which could field him from Khammam. Two other TRS MPs who may be denied tickets by their party could be fielded from their sitting seats by the BJP.
Former minister D.K. Aruna, who has joined the BJP, will contest the Mahbubnagar LS seat.
