Hyderabad: BJP leader and former Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, who is known to be a strident voice against the ruling BRS government, resigned from the party and rejoined the Congress.
"BJP failed to emerge as an alternative to BRS and the party failed to take action against KCR government's corruption," said Rajagopal Reddy in a statement.
Rajgopal Reddy decided to return to the Congress fold because of his commitment to defeat the BRS for the larger good of the people of Telangana, a source confirmed.
“Despite scathing criticism and a barrage of maligning personalised campaigns against him, he has endured it all and decided to focus on a larger goal. He has expressed his intent to contest from both Munugode and Gajwel,” the source added.
The move is a big blow to the saffron party, which is tottering from a series of political blunders on its part. Meanwhile, the BJP leader's shifting loyalty will be a big boost for the Congress party in Telangana, which if some of the recent poll surveys are to be believed, is set on course to upset the pink party’s bid for a third term.
According to sources in the BJP, Rajagopal was disappointed and downcast with the party leadership for not considering his suggestions to step up the fight against the BRS. “Rajgopal conveyed to the BJP his strong views on not changing Bandi Sanjay Kumar as BJP state party president or going soft against the BRS leadership. As he had to choose between tacitly being on the same side as the ruling party, he decided to quit and fight for the people’s sentiments,” another source confirmed.
Sources have confirmed that Rajgopal Reddy is keen to fight against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao in Gajwel besides his traditional seat of Munugode. But the Congress party would take a final call based on the deliberations in the party poll panel and also the internal surveys.
There were unconfirmed reports that three other leaders of the BJP are set to resign from the party and join the Congress, including former MP G. Vivek Venkataswamy, former movies icon, former MP and senior leader Vijayashanti, and former MLA Enugu Ravinder Reddy. But none of the sources could confirm their decision to quit the saffron party.
