Cong MLA in T'gana hints at joining BJP

Faced with a crisis of sorts after two-thirds of its 18 MLAs joined the ruling TRS, the Congress in Telangana might suffer a fresh setback with another party legislator hinting he might switch over to BJP.

Congress MLA from Munugode near Nalgonda, Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy Sunday expressed disappointment over the current state of affairs in the party not only in Telangana but in the entire country.

The country would progress under the BJP, he said adding it was the alternative to counter the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Amid reports that he might join BJP, Reddy, an influential leader from Nalgonda district, said he would meet his supporters to take a decision on his future course.

Reacting to the overture, state BJP president K Laxman Sunday said not only Reddy, whoever wanted to strengthen the BJP and the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah would be welcomed.

He claimed many leaders, including MPs and MLAs, were approaching the BJP in the state and a list of those willing to join the party had already been sent to the national leadership, which will take a decision.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka described Reddy's remarks hailing BJP as his personal opinion and said the party high command would take a decision in the backdrop of the MLA's critical comments about the party.

"That is his personal opinion. If anybody thinks BJP will be the alternative, it's only a myth, he told reporters here.

Pleading ignorance about reported meeting between Reddy and BJP leader Ram Madhav, he, however, said some political realignment is happening in the state. I can't talk on that based on media reports.

Earlier, the Congress MLA alleged his party was not able to effectively take on the TRS.

"The Congress is in a difficult position, not only in Telangana, but the whole of India. The country will progress under BJP. The youth are with BJP.The party is the alternative to counter KCR (Chandrasekhar Rao)," Reddy told PTI.

The country's interests should also be kept in mind, he said adding he was not after any post.

Reddy claimed Congress did not have an effective leadership and was not able to take "right and timely decisions though people like him were fighting the TRS."