TRS govt inaccessible to people: Konda Vishweshwar Reddy

​Hyderabad: In a major setback to the TRS, which is in the midst of poll campaign, party MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy resigned from the party on Tuesday. He is likely to join the Congress on November 23 in the presence of Sonia Gandhi when she would be addressing the election meeting at Medchal.

In his three-page resignation letter sent to Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday, Vishweshwar Reddy, who represents the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency, said that during the last two years or so, the TRS had moved away from the people and the government too was not accessible to the people. He said TRS workers who sacrificed a lot during the agitation for a separate Telangana state were being side-lined and loyal party workers were also not given due importance in the party. 

The letter, which was addressed to party president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said that the MP was saddened to see how the party was doing injustice to ‘karyakartas’, who worked for Telangana statehood at constituency, state and party level. Based on multiple incidences that had happened during the last two years, Vishweshwar Reddy said he felt that the distance between party, people and party workers was increasing. “We as a government were becoming inaccessible to the people. 

You had always been polite and kind to me and I will always remember that and respect you for your achievements. In fact, everyone is amazed how I would even consider leaving the TRS,” he said. Vishweshwar Reddy said the party after coming to power had inducted people who were against Telangana and were of different ideologies into the Cabinet and were given more power and prominence. 

“But those who fought for Telangana and shared common ideology, including me, are no longer needed in the party. I tried to maintain a fair and selfless stance on all issues despite provocation. I am powerless within the party and because of the tenets of good behaviour for a party member I kept quiet.  Furthermore, my multiple attempts to resolve issues or at least come to terms with them have failed. Since I am unable to acquiescence with the current scenario, I feel the best possible path for me is to resign from the party. I will also resign from the Lok Sabha, KCR Garu,” said Vishweshwar Reddy. He said not being a traditional politician he cannot delink action and ideology, sense and sentiment. 

The growing differences between him and Pantam Mahender Reddy in the district are also said to be one of the reasons for his resignation. In fact, speculations about Reddy’s resignation was in air for the past few days. TPCC president A Revanth Reddy had also said that two MPs from the TRS would soon quit and join the Congress. 

Vishweshwar Reddy is the grandson of former Deputy Chief Minister Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy after whom the RR district has been named. His father Madhav Reddy was the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court. In 2014, KCR had gone to Vishweshwar Reddy’s house and asked him to contest the Lok Sabha elections. 

Recently, when the rumours of his exit from the TRS emanated, KTR spoke to him and asked him not to take any such step as it could cause damage to the image of the TRS.  Vishweshwar Reddy, who is known for his low profile, had been keeping aloof from the party activities and so far did not participate in any of the election meetings. It may also be mentioned here that his followers like Rohit Reddy and K S Ratnam were given tickets by the Congress.