Now that the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana are over, Pradesh Congress Committee president and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has intensified efforts to poach as many MLAs as possible from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
On Friday, senior BRS legislator and former state assembly speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy defected to the Congress.
Revanth Reddy, along with his cabinet colleague Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, visited Pocharam at his residence and invited him to join the party.
The Chief Minister formally offered a Congress party scarf to the former Speaker and his son Bhaskar Reddy, welcoming them into the party fold.
Pocharam told reporters that he had accepted the invitation to join the Congress.
He said he had keenly observed developments after Revanth Reddy became Chief Minister and praised the pro-farmer policies.
“As I come from a farming family and recognizing the government's commitment, I decided to join the Congress,” he said.
Revanth appealed to Pocharam to extend his cooperation in rebuilding Telangana.
“We will seek Pocharam’s guidance in ensuring farmers' welfare in the state. He will be offered a suitable post in the future,” Revanth said, adding that the state cabinet would soon decide on the guidelines for the Rs 2 lakh farm loan waiver.
The state government was according top priority to farmers’ welfare, and all those who wish to work towards this cause would be taken along, the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, BRS workers led by former MP Balka Suman arrived at the former Speaker’s residence and raised slogans against him. They demanded that he withdraw his decision to join the Congress.
Tension prevailed for a while when the BRS workers tried to obstruct the Chief Minister’s convoy from leaving the former Speaker’s residence. Heated arguments took place between the BRS workers and the police.
Already, three BRS MLAs, including Khairtabad legislator Danam Nagender, Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari, and Bhadrachalam MLA Tellam Venkata Rao, have shifted their loyalties to Congress. Many others are said to be in line.