The embarrassment of an MLA quitting Congress in Telangana was averted by the party today, reportedly after an intervention of Rahul Gandhi's office in Delhi.
The intervention came after reports that Congress MLA from Medak district Nandeeswar Goud planned to join Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).
"I am working as a sincere Congress activist. I am very happy indeed, because our young leader and future Prime Minister Rahul Gandhi's office called me up. Kanishkaji spoke to me and said 'brother, you don't quit the party. Congress is with backward classes and appointed Ponnala Lakshmaiah as PCC president. You work with him and you will have good days ahead. You be in party'. I felt so happy. I said, 'sir, I am a Congress activist. I do not want to go. Some are trying to trouble me and send me out. I am not going on my own'," Goud told reporters.
Lakshmaiah and other Congress leaders from Telangana had reportedly spoke to Goud.
After ruling out merger with Congress, TRS had also dashed the national party's hopes of an alliance for Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the region.
Addressing workers at his party office here two days ago, TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao said "there will not be any electoral alliance with Congress. Let's see from tomorrow if TRS MLAs will join Congress or the reverse will happen".
Meanwhile, Lakshmaiah said several leaders from other parties are happy with the Congress for making the dream of a separate Telangana state come true.
"Congress has granted Telangana. We achieved a separate state after a protracted struggle. We are inviting all who wish to join us to build a golden Telangana," the newly-appointed Telangana Congress Committee president said.
"Many, including MLAs and at the level of MPs, are conveying greetings. They wish to come and speak to us," he said.
