Revanth Reddy who was the working president of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) joined Congress in presence of AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi on Tuesday.
Besides Revanth, 14 other TDP leaders including ex-ministers, ex-MLAs and ex-MLCs joined the Congress party. Two ex-MLAs of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also joined the Congress party on this occasion.
Surprising many, Revanth Reddy known for his firebrand image and a mass presence in the state, joined Congress in Telangana despite TDP being in power in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and also sharing government in central with BJP.
He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi granted statehood for Telangana. However, after coming to power in the new state in 2014 elections, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao worked only for the welfare of his family and did not meet any of the promises that he made with farmers, students and youth. Stating that TDP has vanished and other parties have no significance in the state, he said Congress is the only alternate to TRS in Telangana.
Meanwhile, Congress has said that Revanth Reddy has joined the party without any conditions after resigning from the post of Telangana TDP Working President.
Speaking to India Today after his joining, Revanth Reddy said his decision to join Congress was not a regular switch-over from one party to the other and added that he joined the national party to fight the rampant corruption that prevailed in the state and dictatorial behavior of TRS-run government in the state.
“Despite making so many sacrifices the real objective of Telangana formation was not achieved due to Chief Minister KCR. TRS Government did not even prepare the complete list of over 1500 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Telangana. More than 20 lakh students, who participated in the statehood movement, were denied fee reimbursement. About 10 lakh jobless youth, who gave preference to statehood agitation than focusing on their careers, were kept deprived of jobs,”, said Revanth.
“KCR constructed a Rs 1,000 crore palace on 10 acres of land in the heart of the city for himself. Purchased a television channel, newspapers and made other assets. He remained focused on the welfare and growth of his own family. He is openly looting Telangana,” added Revanth while targeting the chief minister of the state.
He also said that Rahul Gandhi is bound to become the next Prime Minister of India and Congress with the help of people will turn the real dream of Telangana into a reality.
Revanth belongs to the influential Reddy community and his joining Congress has charged the political atmosphere of the state, which is scheduled to go for polls in 2019. However, recent buzz suggest an early 2018 election in the state.
