Congress clears DS, Konda couple and two others

​Hyderabad: In fast-paced political developments, the Congress high command has cleared the names of the five leaders of other parties, Rajya Sabha member D Srinivas, MLCs K Murali and R Bhupathi Reddy, former MLAs Konda Surekha and Nandiswar Goud for joining the Congress.

These leaders are likely to join the party in the presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi soon after his return to national capital. Party senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who would visit Hyderabad on September 12, would discuss the joining with these leaders. 

Sources in the party said that the high command has cleared their unconditional entry into Congress and they were in touch with senior leaders of the party, including Azad. Out of them Surekha and Nandiswar Goud may get tickets.

Konda Surekha, a strong leader of Warangal district, has more or less decided to leave Telangana Rashtra Samiti along with her husband K Murali. Surekha, who was miffed with rejection of ticket to her from Warangal East, has raised a banner of revolt against TRS.

Surekha, who was with Congress in the past, left it and joined the YSR Congress. Latter she shifted to Telangana Rashtra Samiti and got elected to the Assembly. Her husband was also elected as MLC from TRS.

D Srinivas, who was two times president of Pradesh Congress Committee in the past, joined the TRS and has been elected as Rajya Sabha member from that party, also announced his departure from that organisation. Though he was expected to join the Congress two weeks ago, it was stalled by the TRS.

BJP leader and former MLA Nandiswar Goud was also elected on behalf of Congress in 2004 from the Patancheru Assembly constituency. He left the Congress and joined the BJP. He resigned from BJP on Saturday and met Congress leaders RC Khuntia and Uttam Kumar Reddy.

TRS MLC R Bhupathi Reddy is also ready to join the Congress. He has disputes with TRS leaders of Nizamabad district and expressed his intention to leave the ruling party. 

The Congress high command, which has examined their profiles, has decided to allow them to enter into the party unconditionally. The party would consider giving tickets to them after their joining.

Senior leaders of the party said that the joining of these five leaders would strengthen the organisation in north Telangana. Konda Surekha and her husband were capable turning the tide in favour of Congress in Warangal district.

D Srinivas, considered as a strong leader of backward classes, would be helpful to Congress to improve its support base in that community. Bhupathi Reddy’s entry would help the party to make some gains in Nizamabad district.