Within a day of proclaiming that they had offers from as many as 15 parties to join, the Konda couple – former minister Konda Surekha and her MLC husband Konda Murali – joined the Congress party in the presence of AICC president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Surekha and Murali had no other option but to join the Congress party, as they need a strong forum to sustain in politics.
Though there were reports that they had an offer from the Bharatiya Janata Party, it did not materialise as Surekha knows the BJP had no support from people in her constituency.
Speaking to media later, Surekha said the only objective of her joining the Congress party was to defeat the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
“Hereafter, the TRS leaders will see what our influence is going to be in Warangal. My objective is to ensure that the Congress wins all the six assembly seats in Warangal,” she said.
Surekha said the TRS was able to come to power only by attracting leaders like her before the 2014 elections.
“After winning the elections, it has become an out and out family party. Except KCR and his family members, there is no place for any genuine and sincere Telangana workers. While the real issues of the people were ignored, KCR took up programmes that benefitted him and his family,” she alleged.
It is learnt the Congress high command did not entertain her request for giving the party ticket to her daughter Sushmita from Bhupalpally constituency.
“Only one of your family members will get the ticket. The party will take care of your husband and daughter in other ways once it comes to power in Telangana,” the top bosses told her.